An armed robbery took place on the Padma River within the Char Bhadrasan upazila of Faridpur on Tuesday evening. A gang of river pirates intercepted a passenger speedboat, leaving a businessman with severe blade wounds and escaping with cash, mobile phones, and the vessel’s outboard engine.
Passage and Interception on the Riverway
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 pm on Tuesday near the Char Jhaukanda union. Earlier that afternoon, the speedboat’s driver, 39-year-old Sanjit Khalasi, had transported eight cattle merchants from the Gopalpur ghat in Char Bhadrasan to the Moinot ghat in the Dohar upazila of Dhaka. The merchants were returning home after completing transactions at the Tepakhola cattle market in Faridpur town.
Having dropped off the traders, Mr Khalasi began his return journey with a single passenger on board: Liton Molla, a 32-year-old businessman. As the vessel crossed the Dhaka district boundary and entered Char Bhadrasan waters near Faruk Molla’s Char, a double-engine speedboat carrying an armed gang pursued them.
The pirates rapidly closed the distance and blocked the passenger vessel’s path. Seeing the danger, the helmsman steered his boat directly onto the riverbank and fled into the wild catkin grass (kashbon) to hide. He remained there until he was later rescued by the police.
Armed Assault, Theft, and Regional Security Concerns
With the driver gone, the pirates held Mr Molla at knifepoint, seizing his cash and mobile phone. The gang then systematically dismantled and stole the speedboat’s engine and various mechanical components. Before abandoning the site, they struck Mr Molla’s left arm with a sharp weapon, inflicting a deep wound. Local fishermen discovered the injured trader and arranged his evacuation to a hospital in Dhaka’s Dohar upazila, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Abdus Sabur Molla, a local cultural worker focused on riverine life, noted that an act of piracy had not been reported on this water route for the past 10 to 12 years. He warned that if this vital transport link between Dhaka and the river islands becomes unsafe, it will cause deep anxiety for the residents of Char Bhadrasan and surrounding areas. He called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and stronger naval patrols.
Anwar Hossain, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Char Bhadrasan Police Station, confirmed the details of the crime. He stated that a police team reached the site and rescued the driver, though the pirate network had already fled. Law enforcement is currently gathering details, and formal legal action will be taken against the organized gang.
Incident and Casualty Fact Sheet
The verified personnel details, timeline, and asset losses from the Padma River robbery are summarized in the table below:
| Case Element | Verified Detail / Metric |
| Location of Crime | Padma River, near Char Jhaukanda, Faridpur |
| Time of Ambush | Tuesday evening, at approximately 7:30 pm |
| Victim (Passenger) | Liton Molla (32), son of Komor Molla of Karikardangi |
| Helmsman (Driver) | Sanjit Khalasi (39), resident of Khalasidangi |
| Medical Status | Hospitalized in Dohar with sharp-force trauma to the left arm |
| Looted Items | Liquid cash, mobile phones, and a speedboat engine |
| Perpetrator Transport | High-speed, double-engine watercraft |