Members of RAB arrested an individual along with firearm and ammunition from Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday. He is accused in total of 44 cases.
The arrestee was identified as Ziabul Haque Zia, 40, son of Monir Ahmed, resident of Pashchim Majherhat Para under Choufaldandi union in Cox’s Bazar sadar upazila.
Zia, considered one of the top criminals in the area, was arrested on early Wednesday from a relative’s house from Rajarkul area of Ramu upazila, according said RAB-15 Senior Assistant Director and Additional Superintendent of Police, Md Kamruzzaman.
RAB describes him as a notorious land grabber and criminal who terrorized locals for years. The residents lived in fear due to his extensive criminal activities, including land grabbing, shrimp farm takeovers, violence, drug dealing, theft, and extortion.
Kamruzzaman stated that RAB had previously raided Zia’s base, seizing over 300 signed blank documents along with weapons and ammunition, but Zia managed to escape. Intelligence efforts were intensified after the raid, leading to information that Zia was hiding at a relative's residence in Rajarkul, where he was ultimately captured with a homemade firearm and two rounds of ammunition. During preliminary questioning, Zia reportedly admitted to his 15-year involvement in various criminal activities, amassing weapons to enforce his illegal land acquisitions. His gang is suspected of numerous attacks, often targeting those who sought to reclaim their lands or shrimp farms. RAB said during various incidents, victims were shot or forced to leave the community in fear.
