Shahed was hiding in a sewerage drain wearing burqa while arrested

Regent Group Chairman Md Shahed was hiding in a sewerage drain at Debhata upazila in Satkhira wearing a burqa while a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested him early this morning.

Shahed was arrested around 5:10 am in a case filed over his alleged involvement in a recent Covid-19 testing scam and other irregularities.

Nurul Islam, an eyewitness and also a resident of Komarpur village in the upazila, said, "There is a small sewerage drain next to the Komarpur Bridge. Shahed was hiding in that sewerage drain wearing a burqa. Fishermen first thought him a mad person."

"Later, three cars of Rapid Action Battalion arrived and detained him," said Nurul Islam.

After his arrest, he was taken to Satkhira RAB camp under RAB-6 and was immediately flown to Dhaka by a helicopter.

"Shahed shaved his moustache and beard. His hair was basically white, but he coloured it black. He also planned to have his hair cut. If he had escaped, he might have also shaved his hair," RAB Additional Director General (Operations) Colonel Tofail Mostafa Sarwar told the journalist at Satkhira following Shahed's arrest. 

"Shahed provide us some special information. He was taken to Dhaka for further interrogation," he added. 

"We were following his activities. He was changing his destination frequently. He contacted the brokers to flee to India through the border river Ichamati. Shahed also rented a boat to cross the India border. The boatman fled the scene while we arrested him. We will also arrest those brokers who tried to help him fleeing," said Colonel Tofail in the press briefing.

A pistol, three rounds of ammunition and a magazine were recovered from his possession.