9 arrested in Tk 38 Lakh robbery
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Police arrested nine people, including three retired army personnel, in connection with a gunpoint robbery of Tk 38 lakh in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner (Crime) Md Faruk Hossain confirmed the matter at DMP Media Center on Sunday.
The arrested suspects are Tanveer Abedin, 41, Md Mujibur Rahman, 60, Md Jakir Hossain alias Captain Jakir, 60, Md Solaiman Mridha, 55, Mohammad Kabir Hossain, 50, Abul Kalam Azad, 50, Md Zakaria Hossain alias Lelin, 40, Sajal Chowdhury, 31, and Saymun Chowdhury, 33.
Faruk said an 8-10-member gang robbed Tk 38 lakh at gunpoint from a man named Khorshed Alam in front of Dingi Restaurant on 30 August. As the robbers attempted to escape with the money, police and locals caught Tanveer and Mujibur, recovering a local revolver with four rounds of ammunition from their possession.
Based on information provided by Tanveer and Mujibur, police later conducted a raid in Dakshinkhan and arrested Jakir. Then police also arrested six more gang members from Patuakhali, Kuakata bus stand, Mohammadpur, and Baitul Mukarram.
Faruk added that law enforcement recovered Tk 3,45,350 from Zakaria and Tk 2 lakh from Sajal, seizing a total of Tk 5,75,350 of the looted funds. Police continue their operations to arrest the remaining unidentified and fleeing gang members.
He mentioned that the authorities filed a robbery case and an arms case, noting that several arrested individuals already face multiple prior charges. Tanveer faces four cases related to robbery and mugging, Sajal faces six cases of robbery and mugging, Zakaria has two cases involving drugs and murder or attempted murder, and Abul has three cases against him.
Faruk said three retired military personnel are among the arrestees, and some had prior service in RAB. Khorshed went to meet the gang members at Dhanmondi carrying cash to purchase gold.
During the transaction, the suspects, following a plan, transported Khorshed via a rickshaw in front of Dingi Restaurant. A robbery team of four to five members led by Lelin had already taken positions in the area.
Upon receiving a signal, the other gang members blocked the rickshaw, beat Khorshed, and snatched the cash before several accomplices fled the scene on a motorcycle with the money.
Faruk added that several individuals involved in the incident deal in the gold trade and scout for prospective buyers. They discuss the deal at one location and then execute the planned robbery while moving to another place to exchange the gold for cash.
