Police dismiss muggings allegations on moving buses in Savar as ‘misinformation’

Police have dismissed allegations of two separate muggings on moving passenger buses in broad daylight on the same day at the Bank Town Bridge area and C&B areas along the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar, Dhaka, calling it "misinformation."

The statement was issued by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Detective Branch) and the Focal Point Officer (Media) of Dhaka District Police and was published on the verified Facebook page of Bangladesh Police today (13 April).

However, the statement used the term "robbery" instead of "mugging," as reported by the media.

The alleged incidents occurred on 11 April, between 11:30am and 12pm, with claims emerging that passengers were held at knifepoint and mugged on two moving buses at different spots along the highway.

Several media outlets, including The Business Standard, published reports on the incident, quoting eyewitnesses and victims.

The statement posted by Bangladesh Police said, "Several newspapers reported that around 12pm on 11 April 2025, two moving buses were robbed in the BPATC area and Bank Town C&B area of Savar."

Five buses fall prey to muggers in 40 days in Savar, two within 30 minutes today

The statement added, "After hearing about the incident, the officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station, the additional superintendent of police (Savar Circle, Dhaka), and other officers spoke with the victims, bus drivers, assistants, and others. They also collected information and evidence from the scene."

It continued, "Based on statements from the victims, bus staff — as reported by the media — and further investigation, it appears no robbery actually took place on the two buses."

The police also mentioned that no official complaint about the robbery was filed at the station.

The statement concluded, "The investigation suggests that while the police are working hard to serve the public, some groups are spreading false information on social media to damage the image of the police and lower their morale."

Earlier on the day of the incident, Jannatul Ferdous, a student from the 53rd batch of Jahangirnagar University's Chemistry Department and an eyewitness, described the alleged mugging to TBS.

She said, "Around 11:30am, just before the bus reached the C&B area, three men got on the moving Rajdhani Paribahan bus heading toward Nabinagar. They were armed with knives. They forced the driver to stop the bus and then, at knifepoint, held the passengers hostage and looted their cash and gold jewellery."

In a separate incident the same day, Tayefur Rahman, a senior journalist from Savar and another victim, shared his experience.

"Around 12pm, I got on a Dhaka-bound Savar Paribahan bus from the Bank Town Bridge area with my wife and child. We were heading to Shyamoli, Dhaka. After the bus crossed Bank Town and neared the Police Town, 3 to 4 muggers, who were already on board, pulled knives on the female passengers and snatched their gold jewellery," he said.

Tayefur added, "One of them even snatched a gold chain from around my wife's neck."

When contacted about the police statement, Dhaka District Police Additional Superintendent (Detective Branch) Md Tariqul Islam declined to comment.

However, Dhaka District Police Additional Superintendent (Savar Circle) Md Shahinur Kabir told TBS, "We found no evidence of either incident, and we have not received any complaints."

He added that the individuals mentioned in media reports—journalist Tayefur Rahman and Jannatul Ferdous—were contacted by the police. Both said that no such incident had occurred.

When asked why a bus was held by passengers in Gabtoli if no incident happened, the officer replied, "The woman who made the allegation in Darus Salam was brought in and questioned. She said no such incident took place."

He also noted that the woman was "acting" and is now under police surveillance.

The officer also said, "Two journalists first spread the rumour, and others later joined in." 

When asked which two journalists had spread the rumour, the officer named Hafiz Uddin from Daily Manab Zamin and Sanjib Saha from Daily Bangladesher Alo.

After the police officer's claims, TBS reached out to the two individuals who had initially described the events. Both, however, stood by their original statements.

Tayefur Rahman told TBS, "Why would I say 'such an incident didn't happen'? The police are lying. They've never admitted to theft or mugging. Like always, they'll deny it. I didn't file a complaint to avoid trouble. This is just another form of harassment."

He also mentioned that after the incident, an additional superintendent of police and a sub-inspector (SI) from the Detective Branch contacted him. The SI showed him pictures of people, but he couldn't identify anyone. The additional superintendent of police then told him that the bus driver had said no such incident occurred.

Jannatul Ferdous told TBS, "I was there and saw the whole incident. How can they (the police) say I'm lying? What would I gain from lying?" She added, "After the incident, a police officer contacted me to ask what happened, and I told him exactly what I had told the media."

"Since I didn't suffer any harm or lose anything, I didn't file a complaint. Also, my family doesn't live here; I came to study. That's why I didn't want to get involved in any legal complications," she said.

Meanwhile, Hafiz Uddin, staff reporter at Daily Manab Zamin, and Sanjib Saha staff reporter at Daily Bangladesher Alo, have called the accusation of spreading "rumours" against them by a police officer, without any evidence or information, unfortunate.

Hafiz Uddin told TBS, "How did I spread a rumour? My report was published the day after the incident, on 12 April. I based the report on interviews with eyewitnesses and victims."

He added, "Since such an accusation has been made against me, I urge the Bangladesh Police to investigate. If I spread any rumors, legal action should be taken against me. If the additional superintendent of police who made the accusation has lied, action should be taken against him as well."

Sanjib Saha told TBS, "This is unfortunate. I made a Facebook post based on interviews with eyewitnesses and victims. Various media outlets have also covered the issue. Where is the rumour in this? Regrettably, the police are spreading false propaganda against journalists with such malice."