RAB busts massive piracy racket in Narayanganj

A team of Rapid Action Battalion members conducted an overnight drive on Tuesday night in Narayanganj which led to the arrest of 18 people with over 3,000 pirated CDs and equipment to pirate content. RAB 11 sources identified the arrestees as: Monir Hossain, 45, Md Shari, 27, Lalchan, 25, Arif, 21, Khandakar Mizanur Rahman, 49, Masum, 19, Sohag Tripura, 23, Limon, 20, Md Faysal, 24, Rana, 20, Abdullah Hasnat Rahat, 24, Md Zihad, 27, Md Sohel, 29, Md Rasel, 26, Zakir Hossain, 26, Shah Alam, 18, Zakir Hossain, 43, and Rafikul Islam, 24. All 18 are residents of Narayanganj. RAB seized seized 3,485 pirated CDs, 27 computer monitors, 30 computers, 17 beat boxes, 32 sets of speakers, 19 keyboards, 19 mice, two projectors and further paraphernalia. [caption id="attachment_89016" align="aligncenter" width="800"] 3,485 pirated CDs, 27 computer monitors, 30 computers, 17 beat boxes, 32 sets of speakers, 19 keyboards, 19 mice, two projectors and further paraphernalia seized from the piracy racket in Narayanganj Dhaka Tribune[/caption] RAB 11 Commanding Officer Lt Col Kamrul Hasan told the Dhaka Tribune: “Alam Chowdhury of the taskforce against pornography and piracy in film industry and a team from RAB 11 jointly raided Lovely Cinema and Amontron Cinema in Sonargaon, Naryanganj from Tuesday 8pm till 3:30am Wednesday.” During the primary questioning, arrestees confessed that their syndicate records newly-released films with secret cameras from different halls broadcast them on local cable network channels. They also confessed that some cinema hall owners and their employees are also involved in the racket. Earlier on February 2 and March 6 this year, RAB 11 arrested 13 members of the same syndicate. A total of over 2,500 people have been arrested for their involvement in piracy with 793 cases outstanding against them.