Robbery masquerading as raid in Mohammadpur: How it unfolded

It was around 3am on Saturday (12 October). The guard at a residential building in Dhaka's Mohammadpur was deep asleep when a group of men, claiming to be law enforcers, woke him up.

Dressed in Army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) uniforms, the men stated they were there to conduct a raid for illegal arms. Believing them to be genuine officers, the guard opened the gate.

But what followed was not in his worst imagination: a meticulously planned robbery targeting the home of businessman Abu Bakkar, located in Swapnoneer Housing, adjacent to the Tin Rasta intersection.

About 14 to 15 armed men, carrying firearms and sharp weapons, stormed into an apartment on the second floor, creating panic among the residents.

Claiming they were searching for illegal weapons, the robbers ransacked the apartment, breaking into wardrobes, almirahs, and safes.

"They first asked me why I had not deposited my legal weapon to the police station," said the apartment owner, Abu Bakkar.  

"Even though I told them I had done so, they began searching my flat. At one point, they barged into my office room and eventually looted Tk75.50 lakh, 70 bhori of gold ornaments, and three mobile phones, including two iPhones." 

The robbers left the house around 4:15am, disappearing into the night with the stolen goods. Abu Bakkar subsequently filed a case with Mohammadpur police station on Saturday morning.

Yesterday (13 October) law enforcement arrested 11 suspects from various locations across Dhaka in connection with the case.

The RAB and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) confirmed the arrests, which included five former members of the army and air force.

The identities of six of the arrested individuals have been revealed as Shariful Islam Tushar, 35, Zakir Hossain, 37, Md Masudur Rahman, 47, Arif Islam Tarfadar, 30, Jahid Hasan, 35, and Abdus Salam, 50.

Law enforcement officers also recovered Tk9 lakh, gold ornaments, and a microbus used in the robbery.

Lieutenant Colonel Munim Faisal, director of RAB's Legal and Media Wing, said, "Eight individuals were arrested, including five dismissed members of the armed forces. The detainees have been handed over to the police station for further investigation."

Deputy Commissioner Talibur Rahman of the DMP also confirmed the arrest of three more suspects by the Detective Branch (DB) police.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tauhidul Islam, who is leading the investigation, said, "We have arrested a total of eleven people so far, and more information will be uncovered during interrogation."

According to police, the robbers arrived in two private cars and two microbuses, fully armed and wearing helmets. The building guard had no way of knowing that they were not legitimate members of the armed forces.

Abu Bakkar, a well-known businessman in Mohammadpur, and his four brothers manage multiple enterprises, including brick kilns and construction materials. He is known as Abu Company among locals.

"I have a firearms license and recently deposited my weapons at the police station. But, since they were wearing law enforcement uniforms, I trusted them. I want exemplary punishment for the accused," he told TBS over the phone yesterday.