Robbery at Bagerhat's HAMKO facility: Goods worth Tk1cr recovered, 9 arrested

Police have recovered stolen goods worth over Tk1 crore and arrested nine individuals in connection with a robbery at HAMKO's affiliate, Anjin Metal Industries, in Bagerhat.

The arrests followed a series of raids based on intelligence gathering and technological tracking. Two of the accused were apprehended from Chattogram's Sitakunda, police revealed during a press briefing today (9 July).

Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Touhidul Arif said the stolen items included 10 tonnes of aluminium bars, one tonne of copper, and 2.5 tonnes of copper wire; collectively valued at Tk1 crore.

The arrestees were identified as Swapon Hossain, Md Jalil Khan, Joynal Fakir, Md Iqbal Hossain, Al Amin, Md Golam Mortuza, Md Ashraful Islam, Md Abdur Rahman, and Md Rohmot Sheikh.

Among the nine arrested, five were directly involved in the robbery and two were buyers of the stolen goods, while security guards Abdur Rahman and Rohmot Sheikh were arrested on suspicion of aiding the crime.

The robbery took place on the night of 4 July in the Katakhali area of Fakirhat Upazila. Armed assailants tied up the on-duty guards and workers at Anjin Metal Industries and looted the goods.

Ashraful Mizan, assistant manager of the factory, filed a case at Fakirhat Police Station the next day.

Acting on leads, police carried out a raid in Sitakunda on 7 July, leading to the recovery of stolen materials and the arrest of two suspects. Subsequent interrogations led to raids across various locations in Dhaka, where five more were detained. The remaining two were apprehended from Fakirhat.

SP Touhidul Arif added that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspects are connected to other robberies. Authorities are also investigating whether anyone from inside the factory was involved.

Criticising the factory's lax security, the police official said, "The company stored a large quantity of valuable goods without maintaining adequate security. The management has been advised to immediately enhance their security measures."

The arrested individuals are being processed to be presented before the court.