A unit of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-10) detained 29 youths on suspicion of gathering for drug use and homosexual activities at a community centre at Atibazar in Keraniganj in the early hours yesterday, police sources said. The youths, mostly in their twenties, were detained by the RAB and handed over to Keraniganj police station, its officer-in-charge (OC) Saker Md. Zubair told The Independent yesterday.
They would be produced before the magistrate tomorrow (Saturday) and would be shown arrested for possession of drugs like marijuana. RAB sources said they raided the community centre around 3am yesterday following information from local residents that a group of youngsters regularly gathered there at a specific time.
The RAB said some condoms along with gel (lubricants) and drugs were recovered from their possession, indicating they had gathered there for homosexual activities after renting the community centre for Tk. 10,000.
The police said the youths were later handed over into their custody yesterday. They would be charged with possession of drugs like ganja (marijuana). The identities of the youths were not immediately available except for the fact that they were mostly students aged between 20 and 30 years. Homosexuality is a criminal offence under Bangladesh law.