Seven Prize Bulls Stolen in Shocking Highway Heist at Shayestaganj

A daring and deeply unsettling robbery has been reported from Shayestaganj in Habiganj district, where a group of criminals posing as police officers intercepted a livestock transport vehicle and made off with seven prize bulls along with the pickup truck carrying them. The incident occurred late on Thursday night, shortly after midnight, on the Suraboi–Purasunda road, a connecting stretch of the Dhaka–Sylhet highway.

Following the incident, cattle trader Dulal Mia filed a formal case at Shayestaganj Police Station, naming unknown assailants. The crime has sparked concern among traders and local residents, particularly over the apparent misuse of police uniforms to carry out such an audacious offence.

According to Hiron Mia, a cattle trader from Ulukandi village in Chunarughat upazila and one of the victims, he was travelling with fellow traders Chorab Ali of Sudiakhla village and Dulal Mia. Earlier that day, the three men had purchased seven bulls from the Puradia cattle market under Belabo Police Station in Narsingdi district. The animals, described as healthy and high-value, were bought for a total of Tk 7,44,000 and loaded onto a pickup van for transport back to Habiganj.

As the vehicle reached the Suraboi–Purasunda road area under Shayestaganj Police Station, it was suddenly stopped by a group of 10 to 12 individuals. Among them, three to four men were wearing police uniforms and used torches to signal the pickup to halt, giving the impression of an official roadside check. Trusting the apparent authority of the men, the traders complied.

What followed was a terrifying ordeal. The victims were forcibly removed from the pickup and pushed into a black Hiace microbus. Their hands and eyes were bound with cloth, and they were driven towards Dhaka. Near the Kuttagram area by the World Road, the assailants abandoned the three men in a nearby haor (wetland), still tied up, before fleeing with the pickup truck and the bulls.

Despite the darkness and isolation, the victims raised alarms. Hearing their cries, local residents rushed to the scene and managed to rescue them. Later, relatives arrived and took the shaken traders home.

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Kalam of Shayestaganj Police Station stated that the police had received the complaint and that an investigation was under way. “We are taking the matter seriously. Legal action will be taken following a thorough investigation,” he said.

Incident at a Glance :