Police officers in Dhaka have arrested two local political leaders affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, in connection with the highway robbery of gold jewellery near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Investigating officers also retrieved 100 grams of the stolen gold following targeted operations across the capital.
The suspects in custody have been identified as Al Amin Shanto, General Secretary of Airport Thana Chhatra Dal, and Abdur Rauf, President of the Airport Unit BNP. A specialized team from Airport Police Station apprehended the duo during twin drives executed on Saturday night, 29 August, and Sunday evening, 30 August.
The law enforcement action follows a formal criminal complaint lodged on 29 August by Md Sumon, a resident of Raipura upazila in Narsingdi district. The primary case explicitly names four political figures: Airport Unit BNP President Abdur Rauf, Airport Thana Chhatra Dal President Ripon, General Secretary Al-Amin Shanto, and Airport Ward BNP General Secretary Rubel.
Outlining the sequence of events in his statement, Sumon explained that his elder brother, Kawsar, a Bangladeshi expatriate worker in Malaysia, had sent 200 grams of gold jewellery home on 28 August to cover family expenses and prepare for their sister’s upcoming wedding. Sumon and his friend Rohan Chowdhury arrived in the airport area at approximately 8:00 pm that evening to receive the valuable consignment from an intermediary appointed by his brother.
Upon taking possession of the gold, the duo boarded a rented microbus and travelled to the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, disembarking directly across from the Balaka Bhaban building. However, as soon as they stepped onto the pavement, the situation took a violent turn.
A group of aggressive men encircled Sumon and his friend, beating them whilst hurling political allegations that they were associated with the Awami League and its student wing, Chhatra League, and falsely claiming they were carrying explosive materials. Utilizing the physical intimidation and surrounding commotion, the assailants forcibly seized the entire 200 grams of gold jewellery. As nearby onlookers began responding to the commotion, the perpetrators dispersed into the surrounding streets with the stolen items.
Confirming the developments, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mirza Tariq Ahmed Bheg revealed that investigators pinpointed the suspects by scrutinizing extensive Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage recorded along the highway corridor. Law enforcement officers recovered half of the stolen gold, amounting to 100 grams, during the initial raids.
Addressing concerns over the political standing of the accused, Mirza Tariq Ahmed stated that officers are verifying their official party credentials. He reaffirmed that political affiliation offers no immunity from criminal prosecution, emphasizing that all individuals implicated will be treated strictly as criminal suspects under Bangladeshi law. Police units are continuing intelligence-led drives to apprehend the remaining fugitives named in the suit and retrieve the outstanding gold.
