A nephew of a sitting Member of Parliament has been arrested in Lalmonirhat’s Kaliganj upazila along with an associate after Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-13) recovered 20 bottles of banned Eskuf cough syrup, commonly misused as an intoxicating substance.
The arrests were made on Monday afternoon (14 April) during an intelligence-led operation, while the accused were later produced before a court on Tuesday following initial legal procedures.
Details of the Arrested Individuals
| Name |
Age |
Identity |
Alleged Role |
| Ilias Hossain (Liton) |
48 |
Nephew of MP Rokun Uddin Bablu (Lalmonirhat-2) |
Alleged ringleader |
| Aminur Rahman |
40 |
Associate |
Alleged accomplice |
According to officials, Ilias Hossain, also known as Liton, is the son of the elder brother of MP Rokun Uddin Bablu, who represents Lalmonirhat-2 (Aditmari–Kaliganj).
Intelligence-Led Raid at Kaliganj
In a press release, RAB-13 stated that the operation was conducted in the Uttar Botros Khamari area of Chandrapur Union under Kaliganj upazila, following secret information regarding ongoing drug-related activities.
Acting on the tip-off, a specialised team of RAB personnel carried out a search at the residence of Ilias Hossain. During the raid, officers reportedly discovered a white plastic bag hidden inside a cowshed on the property. The bag contained 20 bottles of banned Eskuf syrup.
Both suspects were arrested at the scene on charges of involvement in illegal drug trading.
RAB officials confirmed that the seized items and the accused were initially handed over to Kaliganj Police Station after preliminary interrogation.
RAB Statement and Legal Action
RAB-13 Assistant Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Media) Biplob Kumar Goswami confirmed the arrests and said that a regular case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
He stated that the crackdown forms part of ongoing nationwide anti-drug operations aimed at dismantling local networks involved in the trafficking and distribution of controlled substances.
Following further legal procedures, the accused were produced before a court on Tuesday afternoon and subsequently sent to jail.
Police Response
Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Siddique confirmed that two individuals had been handed over by RAB along with the seized contraband.
“We have received the accused and produced them before the court,” he said. “However, we have not specifically verified their political or familial connections.”
Broader Anti-Drug Campaign
Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have intensified operations against the illegal drug trade in recent years, with particular focus on cough syrups like Eskuf, which are frequently abused for their intoxicating properties despite being medically regulated substances.
Authorities say such substances are often smuggled and sold through informal networks, contributing to rising concerns over youth addiction and rural drug distribution chains.
The latest arrest once again highlights the involvement of individuals from influential backgrounds in drug-related offences, underscoring challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling organised narcotics networks across the country.
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