A top drug dealer has escaped police custody in Bangladesh whilst being transported back to prison following a court appearance. The fugitive, identified as 30-year-old Raja—popularly known in criminal circles as “Picchi Raja” or Badsha—managed to slip away from escorting officers on Sunday evening (27 September) at around 6:00 pm.
The incident occurred near Naojor Highway Police Station in the Baimail area of Konabari, located within the Gazipur Metropolitan area.
Raja, the son of Motaleb, resides at House 117 in Block-A of the Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. Local law enforcement authorities identify him as one of the primary figures controlling illicit narcotics distribution within the densely populated Geneva Camp enclave. He currently faces formal criminal charges under the Narcotics Control Act at Mohammadpur Police Station.
According to police officers and local eyewitnesses, a police escort was transporting several remand prisoners back to Kashimpur Central Jail following their mandatory court hearings in Gazipur. As the transport vehicle approached the Naojor Highway Police Station, Raja requested an emergency comfort stop to use the toilet facilities. Accompanying police officers escorted him out of the vehicle toward the facilities; however, Raja exploited a brief lapse in surveillance, broke away from his handlers, and vanished into the surrounding area before officers could react.
The escape of a high-profile narcotics suspect in transit highlights ongoing logistical and security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies when escorting prisoners between courtrooms and correctional facilities. Standard protocols typically dictate strict physical restraint and continuous armed surveillance during transit stops, particularly for individuals linked to organized crime networks.
Following the breakout, Gazipur Metropolitan Police and nearby police stations were immediately placed on high alert. Multiple specialized units and police teams have launched coordinated search operations and intelligence-led raids across Konabari and adjoining districts to recapture the fugitive. Authorities have also intensified monitoring around Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, anticipating that Raja may attempt to seek refuge within his established criminal network inside Geneva Camp. An internal review regarding potential procedural negligence by the escorting personnel is expected to follow.
