Two Arrested Over PMO Red Phone Cable Theft
Outsourced Secretariat worker Ranjan Chandra (right) admitted to the theft, according to reports. Photo: Collected
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has arrested two individuals in connection with the theft of cable used for the red telephone line of the Prime Minister’s Office located at the Secretariat. The stolen copper wire has also been recovered.
The arrested individuals are Ranjan Chandra, 25 and Rezakul Islam, 32. A CTTC source confirmed the information on Thursday afternoon.
Recently, a sensitive incident occurred at the Secretariat involving the theft of cable connected to the Prime Minister’s Office red telephone line. The case sparked widespread discussion on social media and in various media outlets after a case was filed. Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) filed the case at Shahbagh Police Station against unidentified persons.
Considering the seriousness and sensitivity of the incident, the CTTC City Intelligence Analysis Division launched a shadow investigation. Based on intelligence analysis and confidential information, investigators detained Ranjan Chandra, an outsourced worker at the Secretariat, on Thursday afternoon for questioning.
During interrogation, Ranjan Chandra reportedly admitted that he stole the cable on May 22 from Building No. 3 of the Secretariat. He later sold 8.2 kilograms of copper wire at a scrap shop in front of Ekushey Hall at Dhaka University on June 1 at a rate of 600 taka per kilogram.
Based on his information, police then raided and arrested scrap trader Rezakul Islam in front of Ekushey Hall. Later, acting on his statement, authorities recovered the stolen copper cable of the Prime Minister’s Office red telephone line from a scrap warehouse on Hoseni Dalan Road in Ward No. 27 of Chawkbazar Police Station.
In preliminary findings, CTTC suspects that an organized group is involved in stealing cables from various important connections at the Secretariat. Investigations are ongoing to identify and bring the main perpetrators to justice.
