Go allout against criminals, outlaws

The Rab DG issued the order at a close-door meeting at Rab-6 camp here during his short visit to Kushtia on Saturday.

High officials of Rab and police attended the two-hour meeting that began in the evening. The officials attending the meeting included Rab-6 (Khulna) Acting Commanding Officer Maj Kausar, Kushtia Police Superintendent Masud-Ul-Hasan and Rab-in-Charge in Kushtia Capt Areif, meeting sources said.

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The Rab chief has ordered the elite anti-crime force to intensify the on going operation in the region and to take special measures against outlaws, the sources said.

The law-enforcers recently started a special drive in the region with a fresh list of 500 criminals and their godfathers in hand, sources said. A large number of outlaws are still evading arrest in the region, specially in Kushtia district.

He also directed stern action against drug trading in southwestern districts. Sources said at least 2000 cadres of seven outlawed parties are still active in Kushtia. The parties are Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML), PBCP-Janajuddho, Bipplobi Communist Party (BCP), New Bipplobi Communist Party (NBCP), Banglar Communist Party (BCP-Laltu), Gono Mukti Fouj (GMF) and Jashod Gono Bahini (JGB).

At least 72 alleged members of these outlawed parties were killed in Kushtia, the highest in the southwestern districts, since June last year.

All of them died in 'crossfire' in encounters with law enforcers, Twenty-six died in encounters with Rab and the rest with police.

The sources said hardened outlaws including several ringleaders are still at large. Some of them have crossed the border and some are sheltered allegedly by political leaders, the sources claimed.