The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has detained at least 100 people in an anti-drug raid at the capital’s Mohammadpur area.
People from different walks of lives, including females have been held in the two-hour raid, from 10:30 am on Saturday, at the Geneva Camp.
It comes amid the countywide crackdown on narcotics, when at least 50 people were killed in what the law-enforcers describe as ‘shootouts’.
The Geneva camp, known to be one of the hubs of illegal drugs in Dhaka, was entirely sealed-off during the raid conducted by 36 teams of the Mohammadpur-based RAB-2. The bomb disposal unit as well as the dog squad also took part in the operation.
Those detained have been taken to the RAB- 2 offices, said the elite police unit’s spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan.
“Geneva camp is hub for illegal drugs for long. Raiding this area is difficult as it’s densely populated. So, we deployed several teams,” he said before adding the detainees will be quizzed and those found not involved will be released.
It’s the first time a drug raid has been conducted in area, according to senior RAB officer Khan. “Our past experiences were not pleasant. So, we had taken maximum precautions, but nothing happened.”
Families of several of those detained in Saturday’s raid claimed that the law-enforces just barged in and whisked away their relatives without any explanation.
Fahmida, a female student of South East University, was taken away from her home in Geneva Camp. “We were sleeping when the RAB came. They came in and took away my daughter,” said mother Banu.
Private university student Saidul Haider Nayan was held from his brother’s home, where the 23-year-old came to spend the weekend. “They took him away around 11am”, said his sister-in-law Togor.
Several other families claimed that their relatives were detained as they were heading for the daily chores.
Anisur Rahman, was picked up by the RAB from the street outside his home on Humayun Road, according to his wife Rupa. “He went out to bring some breakfast from a nearby restaurant,” she told Bangla Tribune.
The RAB said that any one was yet to be officially detained.
“A huge number of people, including females have been brought in and the initial interrogation is on. The official figure can be said in the evening after background checks and quizzing complete,”RAB-2 chief Anwar-uz-Zaman told Bangla Tribune.

PHOTO: BANGLA TRIBUNE/NASHIRUL ISLAM