A group of individuals posing as members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) abducted two gold traders and looted them while traveling in a microbus at high speed. Another microbus was seen chasing them. Locals in the area grew suspicious of the unusual situation and blocked the vehicle by felling a tree across the road, forcing it to stop.The incident occurred around 7:00 PM on Monday (July 28) at Joy Bangla Mor area on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway under Char Jashordi Union in Nagarkanda Upazila, Faridpur.
When confronted, the occupants of the first microbus claimed to be RAB members. However, as none of them were wearing uniforms, locals became suspicious. As the impersonators tried to flee, the angry mob caught and began beating them.
Moments later, the second microbus arrived, carrying actual RAB members — some of whom were also in plain clothes. They identified themselves and tried to rescue the detained individuals from the crowd. However, they too became victims of mob violence, as the locals mistook them for more impostors.
Police and additional RAB personnel from Nagarkanda Police Station eventually arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, rescuing both the real and fake RAB personnel.
Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam, acting officer-in-charge of Nagarkanda Police Station, confirmed the incident. He said all involved parties were brought to the station and, by 8:30 PM, transferred to RAB members from the Faridpur camp, who escorted them to Srinagar Police Station in Munshiganj.
The arrested impersonators were identified as Didar (29) of Faridpur, Md. Saiful Islam (30) of Gaibandha, Mintu Gazi (45) of Chandpur, Md. Jamil (32) of Madaripur, and Swapon Khan (45) of Shariatpur.
According to RAB sources, the abducted gold traders — Joydeb Adhya (53) and his brother Bishwanath Adhya (57), residents of Khalishkhali area in Patkelghata, Satkhira — had boarded a Tungipara Express bus from Tantibazar in Dhaka with jewelry-making tools on their way to Satkhira. Around 6:00 PM, when the bus reached Joy Bangla Mor in Faridpur, a microbus blocked its path. Three to four individuals wearing black jackets and caps labeled “RAB” boarded the bus, introduced themselves as RAB members, and forcibly abducted the two brothers.
The victims were blindfolded with towels and physically assaulted. The perpetrators stole Tk 2,700 in cash and the tools the brothers were carrying.
As the mob intercepted the vehicle and began attacking the impersonators, some — including Saiful Islam and Swapon Khan — attempted to escape but were caught and beaten. RAB personnel later took them into custody.
Commander Tarikul Islam of RAB-10’s Faridpur camp stated that a team from RAB-10 headquarters had been pursuing the gang. The misunderstanding occurred because the real RAB team included members in civilian clothing, which caused confusion among the locals.
Anwar Hossain, Commander of RAB-10 Munshiganj Camp, added, “We had been chasing the fake RAB team from Srinagar, Munshiganj. Though they crossed the Padma Bridge and Expressway toll gates, they were eventually caught.”
Regarding the attack on real RAB personnel, he said, “We tried to save the impersonators from being beaten to death by the mob. Unfortunately, due to the confusion, some of our members were also assaulted. However, these incidents are not significant enough to warrant further concern.”
