In Bangladesh, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer was killed, and at least three others were seriously injured after a RAB team came under a coordinated mob attack in the Jungle Salimpur area of Sitakunda, Chattogram, yesterday evening. The deceased was identified as Deputy Assistant Director Abdul Motaleb of RAB-7. According to RAB and police officials, the team was conducting an operation to recover arms and arrest criminals when around 500 attackers, mobilised through loudspeaker announcements, assaulted the force.

The killing has renewed questions over the authorities’ ability to enforce law and order in entrenched criminal zones, particularly since the political changes of August last year, after which violent turf wars intensified in the area. The incident has highlighted the risks faced by law enforcement and the deep-rooted impunity enjoyed by organised criminal networks operating in parts of Chattogram’s outskirts and other parts of Bangladesh.