A fugitive sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-profile narcotics case has finally been apprehended in Bangladesh after evading law enforcement for 14 years.

Officers from the Special Response Battalion (SRB) tracked down and arrested 40-year-old Md Lokman Hossain during a targeted overnight raid on Friday, 25 September, in Padmamansa village, located within the Kunjerhat area of Bhola district’s Borhanuddin sub-district. Hossain, the son of Tofazzal Hossain Howlader, had been residing in his ancestral village under cover to avoid serving his court-ordered sentence.

The case against Hossain dates back to 2012, when he was charged under the Narcotics Control Act at Magura Sadar Police Station following a major drug seizure. Following a lengthy judicial process, a regional trial court found him guilty of serious narcotics offences and sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, anticipating the conviction, Hossain fled before the tribunal delivered its final verdict.

In response to his flight from justice, the court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest. The warrant was subsequently forwarded to the Commanding Officer of SRB-8 via a formal requisition requisitioning specialized assistance to locate the absconder.

Under the direction of SRB-8 leadership, an operational team from the Bhola unit initiated a covert investigation. Utilizing advanced technological surveillance alongside localized human intelligence, the unit successfully pin-pointed Hossain’s secret hideout in Borhanuddin. Officers moved in under the cover of night, taking the convict into custody without incident.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Walid Hasan Mithu, media officer for SRB-8, confirmed the details of the operation, emphasizing the unit’s ongoing commitment to executing outstanding court warrants against serious offenders across the region. Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies have intensified intelligence-led operations in recent years to track down long-term fugitives, particularly those convicted of major drug trafficking offences, as part of nationwide anti-narcotics drives.

Following his arrest, police processed Hossain and formally handed him over to the Borhanuddin Police Station. Legal proceedings are currently underway to facilitate his transfer to a penal facility, where he will serve his life sentence.