Police have arrested a 30-year-old man following the alleged robbery of Tk 550,000 from a bKash agent in Gobindaganj Upazila, Gaibandha. The attackers also took two mobile phones, a bag containing the keys to the victim’s shop and other belongings after intercepting him with a microbus and threatening him with sharp weapons.
The incident took place at around 12.30am on Sunday, in front of JP Filling Station on the Dhaka–Rangpur Highway. The arrested suspect has been identified as Shamim Sheikh, son of Bhola Sheikh, from Rudranagar Gawchapara in Shibpur Union of Gobindaganj.
According to local residents, the victim, Ayub Ali, operates a bKash agency beside the Dutch-Bangla Fast Track outlet at Gobindaganj Char Matha intersection. He was walking home after closing his shop late on Saturday night when a microbus blocked his way near the filling station.
Four men reportedly got out of the vehicle, assaulted him and threatened him with sharp weapons before taking the cash and other belongings he was carrying. The stolen items included Tk 550,000, a smartphone, a basic mobile phone and a bag containing his shop keys.
Ayub Ali’s cries for help alerted people nearby, including employees of the filling station. They rushed towards the scene, prompting the attackers to flee in their microbus. Shamim Sheikh, however, was unable to escape and was caught by local residents. Police arrived after receiving information about the incident and took him into custody.
On Sunday (4 October), Ayub Ali filed a case with Gobindaganj Police Station against Shamim and three unidentified accomplices. Police subsequently showed Shamim as arrested in connection with the case and produced him before a court. The court ordered that he be sent to prison custody.
Investigators have sought a five-day remand to question the suspect. They hope that interrogation, if authorised by the court, will help establish how the robbery was planned, identify the other alleged participants and trace the stolen cash and mobile phones.
Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahfuz Alam confirmed the incident on Sunday night. He said the accused were believed to be residents of the same upazila, while the three other alleged robbers had fled the area immediately after the incident.
The officer said police initially suspected that the group had monitored Ayub Ali’s movements for some time before carrying out the robbery. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack as they work to establish whether the victim had been deliberately targeted.
Police have continued efforts to arrest the remaining suspects and recover the stolen property. The investigation is also expected to examine the roles of the individuals named in the complaint and establish whether others were involved in arranging or carrying out the robbery.
The incident highlights the security risks faced by mobile financial service agents, who regularly handle cash as part of their business. Agents may carry substantial sums after closing their outlets, making their journeys home a potential point of vulnerability. The alleged attack on Ayub Ali has renewed concern over the safety of small financial service operators, particularly those who work late and travel with business proceeds.
The case remains under investigation. Shamim’s alleged involvement, along with that of the three other suspects, will be determined through the legal process.
