RAB arrests two active members of notorious Ashik Group

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has apprehended two active members of the notorious gang known locally as the ‘Ashik Group’ in Khulna. An operational team from RAB-6 carried out a targeted raid on Monday evening in the Katakhali Intersection area, located within the Fakirhat Upazila of Bagerhat district. The arrested individuals have been identified as 27-year-old Emon Sharif and 25-year-old Sajal Khan. According to the elite force, both men have been operational assets for the criminal syndicate.

Emon Sharif is a resident of the Motiakhali area under the Labanchara Police Station, whilst Sajal Khan hails from the neighbouring Chanmari Bazar area of Khulna city. Following their capture, RAB officials formally transferred custody of the suspects to the Labanchara Police Station to facilitate legal proceedings.

The law enforcement crackdown shines a light on a broader network of organised crime disrupting the region. Currently, nine major criminal syndicates dominate the underworld in Khulna city and the surrounding district. These prominent factions include the B-Company, Palash Group, Huma Bahini, Arman Group, Shakil Group, Nasim Group, Ashik Group, Nur Azim Group, and the Tengki Shawon Group. Territorial disputes amongst these organisations frequently destabilise local security.

Speaking to our representative, the Officer-in-Charge of Labanchara Police Station, Syed Mosharaf Hossain, confirmed that both Emon Sharif and Sajal Khan face multiple pending charges across various stations under the Khulna Metropolitan Police. Emon Sharif has been formally charged in connection with an extortion attempt targeting a businessman in the Labanchara locality. When the merchant refused to pay the demanded protection money, the gang retaliated by setting fire to his residence. The principal accused in that arson case is Ashik, the chief of the criminal group. Meanwhile, Sajal Khan has been produced before the court regarding an existing case filed with the Khulna Sadar Police Station.

Official police data reveals a worrying trend in the local crime rate. From January to June of this year, Khulna city recorded 19 homicides. Furthermore, police intelligence indicates that 34 additional murders committed in the wake of the recent mass uprising have direct links to these local syndicates. Investigations by law enforcement, supported by statements from local sources, show that the majority of these killings stem from conflicts over the control of illegal arms and drug trafficking networks. Persistent extortion rackets and long-standing rivalries amongst the coordinate factions remain the primary drivers of violence in the metropolitan area.