Uttara petrol pump robbery: RAB arrests 3 more with Tk48 lakh of looted Tk1.21cr

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested three more people, including the alleged mastermind, in connection with the robbery of Tk1.21 crore from employees of DL Filling Station in Uttara while they were on their way to deposit the money at a bank.

RAB recovered Tk48 lakh of the looted money from the arrestees.

The arrestees are identified as alleged mastermind Md Abdul Hakim Jomaddar alias Haikka Dacoit, information collector Kawsar, and alleged field operative Jalil.

Earlier, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) had arrested five people in connection with the robbery and recovered Tk12 lakh.

Wing Commander MZM Entekhab Chowdhury, director of RAB's Legal and Media Wing, disclosed the information at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar today (20 August). 

He said Hakim was arrested from a house in Ramchandrapur area of Savar on the night of 16 August while RAB was investigating the petrol pump robbery and examining records of two previous robbery cases.

Three foreign-made pistols, three magazines, two rounds of ammunition, two police handcuffs and a wireless walkie-talkie set were recovered from him.

Based on information provided by Hakim, Kawsar was arrested in Uttara in the morning of 17 August. Later, acting on Kawsar's information, Jalil was arrested from the Kaptai area of Rangamati at the night of 18 August.

Following information provided by Jalil, RAB conducted a raid in Charabagh Madhyapara area of Ashulia and recovered Tk48 lakh of the looted money.

Met in jail, later planned robbery

According to RAB, Hakim, who is accused in 18 cases, became acquainted with Kawsar while both were in jail in connection with a gold robbery case in Cumilla. After Hakim secured bail, the two allegedly planned the robbery.

RAB said Kawsar regularly visited DL Filling Station to buy fuel. During his visits, he learned from an employee that large amounts of money were taken to a bank for deposit every week. He later passed the information to other members of the robbery gang.

Entekhab Chowdhury said Hakim, Kawsar and Jalil Molla conducted a reconnaissance of the DL Filling Station on 2 August, a week before the robbery.

They later recruited seven more people to carry out the robbery. Six of them directly participated in the operation using three motorcycles, while another person stayed near the filling station and monitored the movement of the vehicle carrying the money.

According to RAB, gang member Mustafiz was stationed near the filling station and informed the others by phone that the red covered van carrying the money had left the station. The gang then intercepted the van in front of Crown Plaza and looted the money.

Looted money divided among gang members

RAB's Legal and Media Wing director said the gang members divided the looted money among themselves after the robbery.

Jalil Molla had Tk53 lakh, while another accomplice, Sagar Barai, received Tk14 lakh. Both were allegedly armed with pistols during the robbery. Sagar has already been arrested by the DB, which recovered Tk12 lakh from his possession. 

RAB said Mustafiz received Tk14 lakh, Shawkat Hossain Dipu Tk10 lakh, Sohel Tk10 lakh and Ali, who was carrying a machete during the robbery, got Tk10 lakh.

Entekhab Chowdhury said preliminary information indicates that another accomplice who was with Shawkat Hossain Dipu also received Tk10 lakh.

The shares belonging to Hakim and Kawsar had been kept with Jalil. However, as Jalil went into hiding, the money could not be handed over to them.

RAB also said Jalil told investigators during preliminary questioning that he and his accomplices were involved in the snatching of foreign currency worth Tk17 lakh in Motijheel around two and a half months ago. The matter is being investigated.

Details of the 9 August robbery

The robbery took place on the morning of 9 August in front of Crown Plaza on Airport Road, when money belonging to DL Filling Station was being taken to a bank.

DL Filling Station manager Abdul Karim filed a case with Airport Police Station against six to seven unidentified people.

According to the case statement, assistant manager Mohammad Al Amin, CNG operator Selimuzzaman and covered-van driver Khorshed were travelling to Pubali Bank in Sector-1 of Uttara carrying a bag containing the money.

On the way, six to seven armed men riding three motorcycles blocked the covered van. They held the victims at gunpoint, attacked Al Amin with a machete and snatched the bag containing the money before fleeing towards Abdullahpur.

The DB has already arrested five people in connection with the robbery. They are Md Ilias Shikdar, 36, Zafar, 36, Md Robiul Islam alias Rubel, 34, Mintu Rari, 23, and Sagar Barai, 40.

The DB recovered four 7.65mm pistols, six magazines, 21 rounds of ammunition, Tk12 lakh in stolen cash, fake RAB identity cards, vests, caps, walkie-talkies, handcuffs, several number plates and a motorcycle from their possessions.