Dhaka robbery gang busted; 'ringleader' with 45 cases arrested
Police recovered fake RAB and DB vests, a police-logo handcuff, weapons and a private car allegedly used in robberies.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested seven members of an organised robbery gang allegedly operating across the capital, including its alleged ringleader who faces 45 robbery and snatching cases and five arrest warrants.
The gang allegedly posed as members of the police, Detective Branch (DB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), using uniforms, walkie-talkies and weapons to intimidate people carrying cash and valuables, police said.
DMP Additional Police Commissioner Mohammad Osman Gani disclosed the information at a briefing at the DMP Media Centre today (16 August).
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The alleged ringleader is Md Tayeb Ali Sardar, 45. The other arrestees are dismissed Navy petty officer Pavel Sardar, 33; Saifur Rahman, 45; dismissed Army soldier Rabbi Alam, 24; Imran Hossain Bhuiyan, 28; Nurul Islam, 33; and Md Ismail, 28.
Police arrested Tayeb around 3:30am on 14 August during a raid near Dhurani Bridge in Kamrangirchar.
Based on information provided by Tayeb, police later arrested Pavel in Uttarkhan and the remaining five members from an alleged hideout near Uttara Centre Point Mall.
Police recovered a walkie-talkie, a handcuff bearing the Bangladesh Police logo, two fake vehicle number plates, three RAB-marked vests, a DB-marked vest, reflective vests, a pistol cover and a toy pistol.
Later, based on information provided by Imran, police recovered an Italian-made pistol, a magazine and six rounds of ammunition from a house in Rupganj, Narayanganj.
Police also recovered a private car from Dhanmondi that was allegedly used in the robberies.
Osman Gani said Tayeb had been on the police radar for a long time and operated from Madaripur while allegedly committing crimes in Dhaka.
"He has 45 robbery and snatching cases and five arrest warrants. We had been looking for him for a long time," he said.
Asked about Tayeb's repeated arrests, the DMP official said he had been jailed 45 times in connection with the 45 cases but secured bail each time after spending three to five months in prison.
"Our misfortune is that we repeatedly arrest them and hand them over, but they get bail for unknown reasons," he said.
