In a joint operation conducted by the Bangladesh Army and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Nazmul Islam Shamim, a listed criminal from Jangalia in Cumilla and an alleged Awami League cadre, was arrested along with a large cache of illegal weapons and ammunition.
According to law enforcement sources, the operation was carried out in the early hours of Saturday, 20 December, at Shamim’s residence in the Jangalia area of Cumilla. During the raid, the joint forces recovered three locally manufactured pipe guns, 60 rounds of cartridges, 60 rounds of bullets, and several locally made sharp weapons.
The arrested accused, Nazmul Islam Shamim, is the senior vice-president of the Cumilla District Bus and Minibus Transport Workers’ Union. His father’s name is Abdul Halim. Police officials said that Shamim has a long criminal record, with at least seven cases filed against him at Kotwali Model Police Station on charges including extortion, possession of illegal arms, and creating public disorder.
Local residents alleged that Shamim had been operating an organised extortion network centred around the Cumilla inter-district bus terminal at Jangalia. They claimed that by setting up illegal shops and collecting tolls from transport workers, traders, and shop owners in and around the terminal area, Shamim had been extorting more than Tk 100,000 every month.
Sources from the law enforcement agencies said Shamim had long been considered a key figure in maintaining control over the terminal area through intimidation and the use of illegal firearms. His arrest is expected to ease fear among transport workers and local traders who had reportedly been subjected to regular harassment.
Following the operation, a case was filed against Shamim at Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station on Sunday. Police later produced him before the court, where the learned magistrate, after hearing the case details, ordered that the accused be sent to jail custody.
Law enforcement officials further stated that preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of several other individuals in connection with the possession and circulation of illegal locally made weapons recovered from Shamim. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved, and further legal action will be taken as the investigation progresses.
