Palm oil-laden truck hijacked after driver, helper stabbed in Dhamrai

In a violent highway robbery in Dhaka's Dhamrai upazila, a group of assailants stabbed the driver and helper of a truck before hijacking the vehicle carrying 14.5 tonnes of palm oil.

The incident took place around 1:30am on Tuesday (29 April) on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in the Balitha area of Dhamrai.

The victims — driver Shyamal Kumar Biswas, 55 and his assistant Masum, 50 — were attacked with knives and left tied up by the assailants, who then fled with the truck (Khulna Metro-Ta-11-1622).

Following the attack, Shyamal Kumar filed a written complaint at the Dhamrai Police Station.

Confirming the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Md Shahinur Kabir told TBS, "We've received the complaint, and a case has already been filed. Law enforcement is making every effort to identify and apprehend those involved."

He added, "As far as we know, the attackers — a group of 3 to 4 individuals — intercepted the truck, assaulted the driver and helper, tied them up, and fled with the vehicle. I'm not aware of any confirmed stabbing injuries. We suspect the involvement of an inter-district criminal gang."

However, Dr Ahmedul Haque Titash, the residential medical officer at Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex, said that the victims were stabbed by the hijackers with a sharp weapon.

"Last night, two individuals – Shyamal and Masum – were admitted to our hospital. Shyamal sustained a stab injury to the head, while Masum was hit on the back. Both required stitches. However, since the attack occurred in the dark, they couldn't confirm whether the weapon used was a knife or a machete," he told TBS.

What the truck driver stated in the police complaint:

In his written complaint to the police, truck driver Shyamal Kumar stated that on Monday afternoon (28 April), he departed from Kamal Oil Mills Ltd in Fatullah, Narayanganj, with a shipment of 14.5 tonnes (75 drums) of palm oil, heading to Pabna for delivery.

Around 1:30am, as the truck reached the Balitha area of the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Dhamrai, a pickup van with four assailants overtook and blocked the truck. When Shyamal stopped the vehicle, the attackers forcibly removed him and his assistant Masum, beat and stabbed them, and tied their hands, feet, and mouths using cloth and rope.

One of the attackers then drove away with the truck, while the others loaded the driver and helper into the pickup, assaulted them further, and drove around to different locations. Around 2:30am, they tied the two victims to a tree in Dhamrai's Joypura area and fled.

With help from locals, the victims freed themselves and called the national emergency service (999). Police responded promptly and took them to Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

Shyamal noted in the complaint that the stolen palm oil was worth approximately Tk21 lakh, and the truck around Tk30 lakh. 

He also mentioned that he was working on a commission basis for Maya Company of Pabna, the truck's owner. The attackers were estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old.