A major crackdown by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has exposed a racket involving railway station staff and an online ticket-selling company collaborating with syndicates to procure and distribute tickets at exorbitant prices. This widespread operation led to ticket shortages across railway stations nationwide.
RAB Legal and Media Wing director Commander Khandaker Al Moin disclosed the arrest of 14 individuals, including the masterminds, from various parts of the capital on Thursday night. The apprehended members of this illicit nexus are Uttam Chandra Das (30), Md Selim (50), Anwar Hossain alias Kashem (62), Abani Sarker Sumon (35), Harun Miah (60), Mannan (50), Anwar Hossain (50), Faruk (62), Shahidul Islam Babu, Jewel (23), Abdur Rahim (32), Morshed Miah (45), Abdul Ali (22), and Zobayer (25).
Teams from Rab-3 conducted separate operations at Kamalapur and Airport railway stations, resulting in the seizure of 1,244 train tickets from various routes, 14 mobile phones, and Tk 20,000 in cash.
According to Commander Moin, “Selim and Uttam, the masterminds, had been running their respective gangs at Kamalapur and Airport Station for 35 and 15 years. They employed corrupt employees to block and collect tickets from railway servers and booking counters. The gang members received 50 percent of the profits, while the remaining share went to the complicit railway employees.”
The modus operandi involved paying individuals Tk 100 each for acquiring four tickets using their National IDs (NIDs), resulting in the accumulation of approximately 500 tickets daily. Additionally, the arrested individuals enlisted students to purchase tickets on their behalf.
During peak travel periods like Eid, Puja, and weekends, the culprits collaborated with railway employees and online ticket-selling companies. They strategically contacted IT officers within these companies, instructing them to disrupt servers, preventing passengers from buying tickets online.
This high-profile arrest marks a significant step in curbing ticket scalping activities that have plagued the railway system, ensuring fair access to train tickets for the public.
