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Yaba mystery of RAB-3

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 5/2/2008

Look into press reports of past one year. Almost every week there is news of RAB-3 members arresting some people and recovering banned YABA tablets from the possession of those people. Only during April, number of such ‘recoveries’ and arrests were more than 15 [on an average one case every other day]. The most interesting part of the YABA episode is, RAB-3 men never found more than 90 tablets, while the average ‘recoveries’ range between 10-20 tablets in almost all the cases.



Before making any comments on such drama by RAB-3 men, first of let us rewind some of the previous facts, which may ultimately turn into potential evidence of RAB men’s notoriety.



RAB-3 men arrested notorious kingpin and don of YABA racket in Bangladesh several months back. Name of this person is Amin Huda. According to information, Huda comes from a wealthy family in Dhaka. He had rowdy personal life, being mostly surrounded by beauties and sycophants. For getting adequate money in maintaining such life style, this man first began bringing YABA tablets from Thailand. Later he established a mini plant right inside his residence at Dhaka’s posh area and continued to produce and distribute YABA tablets in Bangladesh. In simply two years, Amin Huda reportedly turned into a multi-millionaire. It will be unwise to comment more on this case, as the matter is under trial with one of the courts in Bangladesh.



But, the Amin Huda story will lead us to knowing some unknown facts of RAB-3’s notoriety. According to the fact, while arresting Huda, RAB recovered more than 32 thousand tablets from his possession. But, in the official seizure list submitted with the court, RAB showed only 7 thousand tablets. Rest of the tablets disappeared! It is even learnt that, the machine for producing YABA tablet was not either sent to court as evidence nor its present trace is known to anyone. According to information, some influential members of RAB-3 are continuing to secretly produce YABA tablets from this mini plant and they are also continuing supply and selling of this contraband item.



But, when one officer named Shahidul Huq Bhuiyan alias Swapan joined RAB-3 as its deputy director, the entire situation greatly changed. Shafiqul is known to be an extremely wealthy man, who made fortune from series of illegal activities using the official status. He already owns a music production and video making company in Dhaka, where he has invested substantial amount of money. Models and performers visiting his business office are regularly picked as ‘agents’ for supply and selling of YABA tablets. Whenever any of such agents fail to bring payments to Shafiqul Huq or makes delay in bringing payment, he or she immediately falls as a victim of this influential officer and a drama is staged of recovering few pieces of YABA tablets from their possession. In recent weeks, a female model was arrested along with three men from a shopping center in Dhaka with 18 YABA tablets. RAB-3 men arrested and sent them to court, without sending any prayer for further interrogation. It is learnt that, the arrested model had dispute with Shafiqul Huq on deal of YABA. But, after arrest, she and her accomplishes made the entire debt as well some more money to RAB men, for skipping remand.



It is also learnt that, Shafiqul Huq Bhuiyan continues blackmailing various people through a group of his ‘own people’ who lodge false complaints against the targeted person, while as the next step Shafiq picks ups the person concerned and extracts heavy ransom in exchange of release. Moreover, some of his men collect information on wealthy businessmen or their kins and Shafiqul Huq will be immediately plotting a conspiracy in arresting those people with planted YABA tablets to squeeze huge money. Right after arrest, the person concerned has to pay TK. 1-5 hundred thousand on the spot to escape severe physical torture.



According to evidential information, Shafiqul Huq Buiyan has set his team with some other questioned and corrupt officials like Captain Shafiq, Mong, Sub Inspector Mahbub etc., in RAB-3 unit. The gang has become extremely powerful and virtually untouchable as it send regular ‘payments’ to high ups in the organization.



Commenting on RAB-3, a senior reporter said, “they are bunch of culprits and blackmailers”. But, even the highest figures in the government are maintaining silence on continuous notoriety of RAB-3 men. Despite specific allegations of abduction, torture, looting and rape, no action has ever been initiated against Shafiqul Huq Bhuiyan or members of his gang.


Rapid Action Battalion or RAB was initially formed as an anti-crime and anti-terrorism elite force in Bangladesh. Falling under the jurisdiction of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Home Affairs, it consists of members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force and Police. It was formed on 26 March 2004 and started its operations from 14 April 2004. Although the RAB has been successful in apprehending several high-profile terrorists, including the infamous Bangla Bhai, international human rights groups have criticised the RAB's lack of accountability as it has been responsible for many deaths which have been attributed to crossfire. There have also been many reports of arbitrary torture.