Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a drive arrested a commander of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (
ARSA) along with a G3 rifle and 5 rounds of ammunition from
Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar district on Thursday night.
Confirming the matter, commanding officer of RAB-15 Lt Colonel HM Sazzad Hossain said in a press briefing on Friday that they have arrested Md Zakaria, a resident of F-17 block in Balukhali
Rohingya Camp-10 on Thursday night.
Acting on a tip-off that ARSA members smuggled firearms from Myanmar for subversive activities, a team of the elite force conducted a raid at the camp and arrested Zakaria, said the RAB official.
The elite force subsequently recovered the G3 rifle and five rounds of ammunition from the Ghati Beel area in Palongkhali union, he said.
During primary interrogation, Zakaria admitted that ARSA members acquired the weapons, looted during recent conflicts in Myanmar, and smuggled those into Bangladesh. The arms were used in various criminal activities in Rohingya camps.
Zakaria concealed the weapon, one of the smuggled firearms from Myanmar, inside Camp-10. As a gun commander, Zakaria participated in numerous killing missions and other criminal activities.
Lt Colonel Sazzad also said Zakaria, being skilled in handling weapons, was involved in sabotage, fighting, destabilizing situations, kidnapping, arms and drug trafficking, extortion, and killing missions within the Rohingya camps at various times.
Zakaria is also accused in several cases filed with Ukhiya Police Station and has been imprisoned twice earlier.
The arrested will be handed over to Ukhiya Police Station later, added the RAB official.
FA/SA
