Pekua Robbery Leaves Family Hostage as Gang Loots Cash, Gold

A gang of armed robbers allegedly raided a house in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar district late at night, holding family members hostage for around 40 minutes and making off with approximately Tk 850,000 in cash and 17 bhori of gold jewellery.

The incident took place in Abdull Hamid Sikdarpara of Pekua Sadar Union in the early hours of Sunday, 26 July, at the home of Saudi Arabia expatriate Zamir Alam and his younger brother Rezaul Karim, administrative officer and secretary of Matarbari Union Parishad in Maheshkhali upazila. The incident has sparked fear and concern among residents over security in the area.

According to the victims, the robbers arrived in an organised group and used weapons to intimidate the household members. They allegedly forced everyone into a room and warned them not to make any noise. Anyone attempting to resist was threatened with being shot, the victims said.

Rezaul Karim said he had gone outside at night to check whether his motorcycle was still parked in front of the house. He later sat with several people at a nearby shop. At around 3am, he noticed a white HiAce vehicle speeding along the road. Shortly afterwards, several men approached him and asked about his identity.

Before he could understand what was happening, the men allegedly threatened him and two others with firearms and took them hostage. The three were then taken to a nearby furniture shop, where they were reportedly tied up with ropes.

The robbers later allegedly placed a weapon against Rezaul Karim’s head and forced him to lead them to his home. A group of seven or eight masked men then entered the house and confined the family members to a single room.

The victims said the robbers first entered Rezaul Karim’s room and took around Tk 650,000 in cash and 10 bhori of gold jewellery. They then entered the room of his elder brother, Zamir Alam, and allegedly took another Tk 250,000 in cash and seven bhori of gold jewellery. The total loss was therefore estimated at around Tk 850,000 in cash and 17 bhori of gold.

Rezaul Karim’s wife, Tasfia Sultana Kajol, said her husband had left home saying he would check on his motorcycle. Several hours later, he returned with seven or eight armed and masked men. The robbers allegedly kept the family confined while searching the house and carrying out the robbery.

She also said the gang took away the hard drive connected to the house’s closed-circuit television system. This has raised concerns that potentially important footage showing the robbers’ movements may have been removed. Investigators may therefore have to rely on other surveillance cameras in the surrounding area, as well as information about the vehicle allegedly used by the gang.

Amena Begum, wife of expatriate Zamir Alam, said the robbers threatened the family with firearms and repeatedly warned them of fatal consequences. She alleged that the attackers took her necklace and earrings before breaking open cupboards and drawers to steal cash and jewellery.

The incident has intensified concerns among residents about security in the locality. Local resident Tamim claimed that armed robberies and hostage-taking incidents had occurred in the area before. He alleged that about a year ago, armed individuals had stolen six cattle from two neighbouring houses in the same area.

Residents are now calling for a swift investigation, the identification and arrest of those responsible, and stronger security measures to prevent further incidents. They also want the authorities to recover the stolen money and jewellery and determine whether the robbery was part of a wider criminal network operating in the area.

After receiving information about the incident, police from Pekua Police Station visited the scene and began an initial assessment. Pekua Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan said police had inspected the location after being informed of the robbery and that efforts were under way to identify and arrest those involved.

Investigators are expected to examine the alleged movements of the robbers, the vehicle reportedly seen in the area and any available surveillance footage from nearby establishments. Evidence from the scene and statements from the victims and witnesses could also help establish the sequence of events and identify the perpetrators.

The incident has left the affected families shaken and heightened anxiety among local residents. Many are now looking to law enforcement agencies to bring those responsible to justice and restore a sense of security in the community.