A coordinated police operation in Manikganj has led to the arrest of eight members of an organised robbery syndicate accused of carrying out audacious attacks on two industrial facilities and stealing assets worth millions of taka.
District Detective Police (DB), acting on a combination of digital surveillance and intelligence-led policing, conducted a series of simultaneous raids from Thursday night through to early Friday across Manikganj Sadar, Ashulia in Dhaka, and Kashimpur in Gazipur. The operation culminated in the recovery of stolen goods and equipment linked to the robberies.
At a press briefing held on Friday at the Superintendent of Police’s office, Additional Superintendent Moharum Ali confirmed the arrests and outlined the details of the investigation. He stated that technological evidence, alongside information extracted from interrogations, played a crucial role in tracking down the suspects.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Masud Rana, Sajedul Islam, Sagar Pramanik, Akhtar Hossain, Alamin, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Billal Hossain, and Salam. Police confirmed that after preliminary questioning, all eight were produced before the court.
Investigators revealed that the gang was responsible for two major industrial robberies earlier in March. On 20 March, the group allegedly targeted the Astia Paper and Board Mill in Shibaloy upazila, while on 23 March they struck Advanced Attire Limited in the Ghior area during the early hours. In both incidents, a heavily armed group of approximately 20–25 individuals is believed to have taken part.
According to police findings, the assailants forcibly entered the premises, overpowered security personnel, and restrained them after physical assault. They subsequently severed electricity supplies to disable surveillance and security systems before dismantling valuable machinery and removing industrial components.
Stolen items included copper wiring, electrical components, computers, hard drives, DVR systems, and cash. Authorities estimate the total financial loss from both incidents at approximately 16.4 million Bangladeshi taka.
During the raids, law enforcement also recovered a range of tools believed to have been used in the robberies, including hydraulic cutters, drilling machines, metal pipes, and large quantities of copper wiring. Officials say the recovered materials further confirm the organised and pre-planned nature of the criminal activity.
Summary of Incidents
| Date | Location | Facility | Nature of Incident | Estimated Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 March | Shibaloy, Manikganj | Astia Paper & Board Mill | Armed robbery; equipment theft | ~80 lakh BDT |
| 23 March | Ghior, Manikganj | Advanced Attire Limited | Coordinated factory raid; asset looting | ~84 lakh BDT |
Police believe the group had been operating in a structured manner across multiple districts for an extended period. Investigators are now working to determine whether additional accomplices remain at large and whether the syndicate is linked to similar offences elsewhere.
Authorities have reiterated that surveillance and security measures around industrial zones will be strengthened further, with increased reliance on technology-driven monitoring systems aimed at preventing similar incidents in future.