RAB Unravels Customs Officer Murder

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-11) has disclosed the details behind the brutal killing of Customs official Bullet Bairagi in Cumilla, confirming that he fell victim to a coordinated robbery carried out by an organised gang of muggers posing as passengers.

According to a press briefing issued by RAB-11, the incident took place on the night of 25 April near the Irish Hotel area of Kotbari on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Cumilla. The victim, Bullet Bairagi (35), an official of the Customs Excise and VAT Training Academy in Chattogram, had completed training and was travelling back to his residence when he was targeted.

Investigators revealed that after boarding a CNG-run three-wheeler alongside other passengers, Bairagi was unaware that members of a criminal gang were already inside the vehicle. The assailants allegedly attacked him mid-journey, forcibly robbed him of his belongings, and later pushed him out of the moving vehicle. He sustained severe injuries and died on the spot.

Following a complaint filed by the victim’s mother at Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station, an investigation was launched against unidentified suspects. The case quickly gained national attention due to its brutality and the victim’s public service background.

Acting on intelligence and technological surveillance, RAB-11 conducted a series of raids on 26 April across different areas of Cumilla and arrested five suspects believed to be directly involved in the crime. Authorities also recovered multiple pieces of evidence, including the victim’s mobile phone, power bank, bag, and clothing, along with weapons and tools used during the attack.

Arrested Suspects and Recovered Items

Recovered equipment included a CNG vehicle allegedly used in the crime, a machete, a switchblade, screwdrivers, a forging hammer, pliers, mobile phones, and cash.

Preliminary interrogation suggests that the group is part of a well-organised robbery network operating at night, targeting unsuspecting passengers in transit. They would allegedly board or intercept CNG vehicles, threaten victims with weapons, and rob them of valuables.

On the night of the incident, the gang reportedly lay in wait at the Jagurjhulie-Bishwa Road area before boarding the CNG with the victim. After assaulting and robbing him inside the moving vehicle, they pushed him out near Kotbari, resulting in fatal injuries.

Major Sadman Ibn Alom, Commander of RAB-11 CPC-2 in Cumilla, stated that the suspects are professional criminals with prior involvement in multiple cases, including train-related robberies. He further confirmed that the gang’s method of operation and the sequence of the murder were established through detailed interrogation.

The arrested individuals have been handed over to Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Police Station for further legal proceedings. RAB officials said the swift arrest and resolution of the case were made possible through coordinated intelligence efforts and rapid operational response.