Special Correspondent: For months, residents of Jamtala in Nikunja Tanpara, Khilkhet, raised alarm over a local rickshaw garage. Operating as a routine repair facility by day, the site reportedly transformed into a notorious hub for drug users and criminals after dark.
According to community members, illicit drugs—primarily Yaba—were traded openly at the spot. As repeated complaints failed to produce action, the facility gained notoriety as an “accursed garage,” spreading fear throughout the residential neighborhood.
Acting on these long-standing allegations, the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) raided the location on Wednesday evening, arresting Md. Shakil Mia (24) with 20 pieces of Yaba. Following the operation, a DNC Sub-Inspector filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Khilkhet Police Station (Case No. 12, dated August 6, 2026).
DNC sources confirmed that a team led by Inspector Siddiqur Rahman of the Khilgaon Circle (Dhaka Metro South) targeted the garage (No. Kha-132/2/B) around 7:00 PM. Officers intercepted Shakil outside the premises and recovered 20 Yaba pills, valued at approximately BDT 6,000, from his jeans pocket. He was subsequently handed over to police alongside the evidence.
Allegations of an Organized Syndicate
The arrest has intensified demands from locals, who emphasize that Shakil is merely a street vendor. They insist the illicit trade will persist unless authorities target the masterminds, financiers, and ringleaders running the operation.
Locals explicitly identified Rubel Hossain, the operator of the garage, as the key figure behind the racket, alleging Shakil distributed drugs under his direct command. Residents also exposed an organized syndicate active in the area, implicating several accomplices, including tin-smith Ripon, fuchka vendor Shafiqul, and a local gambler known as Masum.
Although the garage sits on land owned by two individuals, Biddut and Hasan, residents allege no preventative steps were taken despite persistent complaints, placing financial gain above community safety.
Demands for a Full-Scale Investigation
While acknowledging the raid as a positive first step, residents stress that arresting a single operative is insufficient. Community leaders warn that unaddressed criminal hubs only embolden syndicates, worsening social decay, theft, and muggings.
Locals are calling on law enforcement to expand the investigation to trace the supply chain, funding sources, and network handlers. They also urge authorities to inspect the legal standing of the garage, investigate why prior complaints went unheeded, and expose any influential figures shielding the syndicate.
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