A retired assistant superintendent of police has described how a gang of armed robbers broke into his home in Mirsarai, Chattogram, assaulted him and looted cash, gold jewellery, mobile phones and other valuables. During the attack, Md Matin Ullah pleaded with the intruders not to humiliate him in front of his family, saying: “Tie me up if necessary, but do not humiliate me.”

The incident took place at around 1am on Friday night in Madhyam Wahedpur village, under Wahedpur Union in Mirsarai upazila. According to Matin Ullah, between eight and ten masked men entered his house carrying firearms and sharp knives.

Matin Ullah, who retired from the police service on 25 December last year after a long career, said a loud bang at the door woke him from sleep. When he got up, he found the armed men inside his home. Before he could understand what was happening, they began abusing and beating him.

The attack took place while his wife and daughter were also at home. The robbers allegedly tied his hands, feet and mouth before confining him to a room. They then searched other parts of the house, breaking open cupboards and damaging furniture as they looked for valuables.

According to Matin Ullah, the gang took Tk 40,000 in cash, five bhori of gold jewellery, three mobile phones, a monitor connected to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

He said one of the robbers repeatedly addressed him in an insulting manner and demanded to know where he had kept the money he received after retirement. The questioning, accompanied by verbal abuse and physical assault, prompted him to make his plea.

“They broke down the main door and immediately began abusing me in extremely offensive language and punching me,” he said. “One of them asked where I had kept the money I received on retirement. To avoid being humiliated, I told them they could tie me up if necessary, but should not insult me.”

The incident left the family facing not only the loss of valuables but also the distress of being confronted by armed intruders inside their home. The robbers’ alleged use of weapons and the violence against the retired officer have added to the seriousness of the case.

Matin Ullah said he managed to get out of the room about ten minutes after the robbers had left. He then went to a neighbour’s house and used their mobile phone to inform the police. The delay in raising the alarm followed the time he needed to free himself and leave the room in which he had been confined.

Farida Yasmin, officer-in-charge of Mirsarai Police Station, said police visited the scene after receiving information about the robbery. Senior officers also inspected the house on Saturday afternoon, she added.

An investigation is under way. Matin Ullah has informed the police that he intends to file a case, according to the officer-in-charge.

No arrests or recoveries of the stolen property had been reported in the information available about the incident. The identities of the alleged robbers and the circumstances surrounding their entry into the house have not yet been established publicly.

The investigation is expected to examine the reported break-in, the assault and the list of missing valuables. Matin Ullah’s account provides details of the incident, but the allegations against the perpetrators remain subject to police investigation.