Wife holds press conference seeking whereabouts of Picchi Raja after his escape from prison van.

Syed Bashir Ahmed, Chief Reporter. Khushi, the wife of Raja—alias ‘Picchi Raja’—held a press conference seeking information on his whereabouts following his escape from a prison van. She also accused a self-proclaimed journalist, Jahangir Alam, of blackmail, misappropriating a large sum of money under the pretext of securing her husband's release from prison, and orchestrating his disappearance. Khushi leveled these allegations on Wednesday (September 30) at a press conference organized by the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association. She urged law enforcement agencies to swiftly locate her husband and conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations. How ‘Picchi Raja’ escaped from the prison van According to police and prison sources, Raja (alias ‘Picchi Raja’) escaped from the prison van in the Naojor area of ​​Gazipur on September 27 while being transported back to Kashimpur Central Jail after a court appearance in Dhaka. Although the other 29 accused individuals in the van were successfully taken to the prison, he managed to flee. Prison sources stated that he seized an opportunity to run away after being taken out of the prison van to use a restroom. Five police personnel—including a Sub-Inspector (SI), three constables, and a Naik (driver)—have been temporarily suspended for negligence of duty in connection with the incident. A committee has also been formed to investigate the matter. It is reported that multiple units of law enforcement agencies are conducting operations to re-arrest ‘Picchi Raja’. Who is ‘Picchi Raja’? According to police records, Raja—alias ‘Picchi Raja’—is involved in the drug trade centered around the Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur. There are at least 25 cases registered against him involving drugs, firearms, and explosives. The police had been searching for him for a long time. He had previously been arrested on September 29, 2024; at that time, police reported the recovery of drugs and weapons from his possession. Later, on May 19 of this year, he was arrested by police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while returning to the country from Nepal with his wife and brother-in-law. Wife’s Allegations Against Jahangir At a press conference, Khushi alleged that a man named Jahangir Alam—who claimed to be a journalist—had extracted a large sum of money from them in installments by promising to secure her husband's release from prison and ensure he would not be implicated in new cases. She claimed that approximately Tk 70 to 80 lakh was taken through cash, bKash, and bank transfers; they even had to sell their car and jewelry to raise the funds. She further alleged that an additional Tk 20 lakh was taken later under the pretext of facilitating Raja's release from the prison gate. According to Khushi, despite paying such a large amount, her husband was not released on bail; instead, he was repeatedly implicated in new cases. Khushi also accused Jahangir Alam of pressuring her into a personal and illicit relationship. She stated that she was subjected to various forms of pressure based on the promise of securing Raja's release. She alleged that she was threatened, with warnings that her husband would never be allowed out of prison if she cut off contact with Jahangir. It was claimed at the press conference that they possess various pieces of evidence to substantiate these allegations, including mobile phone screenshots, bKash transaction records, and call recordings. Fears of Husband’s ‘Enforced Disappearance’ Khushi expressed deep concern over the disappearance of 'Picchi Raja' while he was being transported from the court back to prison. She claimed that Jahangir Alam used to control and blackmail her husband within both the prison and court premises. Consequently, she demanded an investigation to determine whether there was a hidden agenda behind the incident of his escape from the prison van. However, information released by police and prison authorities indicates that Picchi Raja escaped by evading the watchful eyes of the police officers on duty while heading to the restroom. Five police officers responsible for the transport have been temporarily suspended, and an investigation has been initiated. Allegations of Being a ‘Mafia Journalist’ At the press conference, Khushi alleged that Jahangir Alam wielded influence by identifying himself as an associate of the Home Minister and a "mafia journalist." She further accused him of weaving a web of fraud by exploiting his identity as a journalist. It was claimed at the press conference that Jahangir Alam faces drug-related charges at various police stations and was himself involved in the drug trade. Khushi stated that she would provide the necessary documents and information to law enforcement agencies to substantiate these allegations. **Demand for Investigation and Recovery** At the press conference, Khushi called for an impartial investigation into all matters concerning her husband, 'Picchi Raja'—including the cases for which he was imprisoned, the incident of his escape from the prison van, and the allegations leveled against Jahangir Alam. She demanded the swift recovery of her missing husband in good health, an investigation into the allegations of embezzlement and blackmail against Jahangir Alam, and legal action against him should the charges be proven. Meanwhile, questions have been raised regarding the role of law enforcement agencies in Picchi Raja's escape, given the criminal cases pending against him. The temporary suspension of five police personnel on duty and the formation of an investigation committee represent the initial administrative response to that incident. Jahangir Alam’s statement regarding the allegations raised by Khushi at the press conference could not be immediately obtained.