'Pichchi Raja', accused in 25 cases, requests to use restroom, escapes police custody on way to Kashimpur Jail

An accused facing around 25 cases, including drug and arms-related cases, escaped from police custody while being taken from a Dhaka court to Kashimpur Central Jail-1 in Gazipur, police said.

Raja alias Pichchi Raja alias Badsha, 30, escaped between 6pm and 8pm yesterday (27 September) in front of Naojor Highway Police Station in Gazipur after requesting permission to use a restroom and taking advantage of the situation, according to police.

Senior Jail Superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail-1 Md Nazrul Islam confirmed the incident.

Police said Raja was taken from Kashimpur Central Jail-1 to the Dhaka Metropolitan Court yesterday morning in a prison van under police escort for a hearing.

After the court appearance, police were taking him back to the jail along with other accused when they reached the Naojor area.

At that time, Raja requested permission to use a restroom. When police personnel took him there, he escaped.

Police said Raja alias Pichchi Raja alias Badsha is the son of Motaleb and had been living at House-117, Block-A of Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur.

Mohammadpur Police Station officials said Raja was arrested on 19 May this year and was known to police as a top drug trader in Mohammadpur.

Police said they learned that Raja, his wife and brother-in-law were returning to Bangladesh from Nepal.

Acting on the information, police waited at the airport and later took them into custody with the assistance of immigration police.

Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Halim said, "There are records of 25 cases against Pichchi Raja."

Following the escape, police and law enforcement agencies launched a search operation to rearrest him.

Kashimpur Central Jail-1 Jailor Jahangir Alam confirmed the incident and said, "Different teams of police and law enforcement agencies are conducting a strong operation to rearrest the escaped accused."