Robbers block road with trees, rob 20 vehicles in Pabna

A large group of robbers has used trees to block a road in Pabna's Santhia and robbed the passengers of at least 20 vehicles, including buses and trucks, in a terrifying display of crime.

Several vehicles were robbed during the incident that took place near the Chechania Bridge on the Pabna-Santhia road around 1:30am this morning (1 March), Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Santhia Police Station, Saidur Rahman, told media.

"Police were dispatched immediately at night upon receiving the news. We are treating the matter with utmost importance," he said. 

According to the police and locals, members of a robber gang first blocked the road by placing tree trunks near the Chechania Bridge, stopping a truck carrying goods. 

Around 15-20 vehicles, including buses, trucks, cars, and microbuses, were stranded within a short time. 

At that time, 30-40 armed robbers, carrying sticks, machetes, knives, and axes, robbed the vehicles.

They also vandalised some vehicles when the drivers delayed opening the gates. During this time, they assaulted transport workers and passengers, robbing their mobile phones, cash, and other belongings. 

They continued robbing people for nearly an hour and a half.

In a video statement posted on Facebook, Islamic speaker Abdus Salam, who fell victim to the robbery, described the harrowing incident. 

"A short while ago, a robbery took place on this road. The robbers placed tree trunks on the road to stop vehicles and carried out the robbery. Suddenly, members of the gang attacked our vehicle. After repeatedly hitting our car, we asked the driver to open the gate, and the robbers entered, holding knives to the driver's throat and stomach," he said in the video. 

"They took everyone hostage and looted everything. We pleaded with them, 'Brother, take whatever you want, but don't harm anyone.' No one in our vehicle was harmed. Upon request, they returned two of my mobile phones," he added. 

"A migrant worker was returning home in a microbus. The robbers attacked that vehicle, assaulted several people, and looted everything," Salam said. 

Claiming that police arrived at the spot after the robbers left, locals said the robbery went on for nearly an hour and a half. 

They said such a major robbery could have been prevented if the police had come earlier.