In a dramatic turn of events, police in Munshiganj have successfully recovered 94 bhori and 14 ana of gold following a sensational highway robbery on the Dhaka-Chittagong route. The operation, carried out by the Munshiganj Detective Branch (DB), also led to the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in the audacious crime.
Munshiganj Police Superintendent Menhazul Alam confirmed the arrests in a press release issued on Wednesday evening. According to the statement, those apprehended include Sub-Inspector Akhtaruzzaman Munsi of the Police Special Branch (SB), Md. Ramzan, a correspondent for My TV, Ramzan Ali, President of the Krishak League in Ramkrishnapur Union, Harirampur, Manikganj, microbus driver Zakir Hossain, and Mirpur-based jeweller Ismail Hossain.
Police reports indicate the robbery occurred at approximately 3:15 pm on 7 December. Two brothers were travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong on a passenger bus, carrying a significant quantity of gold jewellery. As the vehicle reached Gozaria, a group of five men, disguised in police uniforms, forced the passengers off the bus under the pretext of a drug investigation. The victims were then handcuffed and loaded into a waiting microbus. During the ordeal, both brothers were blindfolded and physically assaulted. The assailants made off with 145 bhori of gold, cash, mobile phones, ATM cards, and national identity documents. The victims were subsequently abandoned, bound, in a secluded area of Kaliganj, Gazipur.
Acting swiftly, Munshiganj DB officers launched a technology-assisted operation. On 9 December, coordinated raids in Kafrul, Mirpur, and Harirampur, Manikganj, led to the arrests of the five suspects. Authorities also recovered 94 bhori 14 ana of gold, BDT 1.35 million obtained from selling some of the stolen items, the microbus used in the crime, two pairs of handcuffs, two walkie-talkies, three police uniforms, and seven mobile phones.
A case has been formally registered at Gozaria Police Station, with the five suspects now in custody. Police investigations continue to locate the remaining gold and to apprehend one fugitive believed to be involved.
The brazen incident has sparked concern among local residents, prompting calls for enhanced security measures along the highway. Police have assured the public of heightened surveillance to prevent similar crimes in the future.