Five police personnel were temporarily suspended after a notorious criminal with 25 pending cases escaped from police custody in Gazipur on Sunday (September 27).

Gazipur Metropolitan Police (Acting) Commissioner Mohammad Taherul Huq Chauhan confirmed the suspensions on Monday (September 28) morning.

The incident occurred while the accused, Raja alias Picchi Raja, was being transported back to Kashimpur Central Jail-1 from a Dhaka court in a prison van.

Upon reaching the Naojor area of Gazipur, the prisoner requested a bathroom stop, and police personnel escorted him to a nearby toilet, from where he managed to flee.

Following the escape, five police personnel, including the prison van driver, were placed under suspension for negligence of duty.

A three-member investigation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters) was formed to inquire into the breach of security.

Picchi Raja, a top drug dealer operating in Dhaka`s Mohammadpur area, was arrested on May 19 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport alongside his wife and brother-in-law upon returning from Nepal.

Police confirmed that Picchi Raja faces between 20 and 25 criminal cases involving narcotics and firearms.