Dhanmondi robbery: 9 arrested, including 3 retired army personnel

Police have arrested nine alleged members of a robbery gang in connection with the armed robbery of Tk38 lakh in the capital's Dhanmondi. Three of the arrestees are retired members of the Bangladesh Army, while some had previously worked with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The arrestees are Tanvir Abedin, 41, Md Mujibur Rahman, 60, Md Zakir Hossain alias Captain Zakir, 60, Md Solaiman Mridha, 55, Mohammad Kabir Hossain, 50, Abul Kalam Azad, 50, Md Zakaria Hossain alias Lenin, 40, Sajal Chowdhury, 31, and Saimun Chowdhury, 33.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner (Crime) Md Faruk Hossain disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road this morning (6 September).

He said a group of 8-10 people robbed Khoshed Alam at gunpoint of Tk38 lakh in front of Dingi Restaurant on Road 12 in Dhanmondi around 2:10pm on 30 August.

As the robbers fled with the money, Dhanmondi Model Police and local residents arrested Tanvir Ahmed Jewel and Md Mujibur Rahman. A locally made revolver and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from them.

Based on information provided by Mujibur Rahman and Tanvir, police later arrested Md Zakir Hossain alias Captain Zakir in an operation in the Dakshinkhan area.

Police subsequently arrested six more alleged members of the gang through operations in Patuakhali, Kuakata bus stand, Mohammadpur, Baitul Mukarram and other areas, using information provided by the detainees and technology-assisted investigation, the joint commissioner said.

Police recovered Tk345,350 in looted money from Md Zakaria Hossain alias Lenin and Tk200,000 from Sajal Chowdhury. A total of Tk575,350 has been recovered and seized so far.

Police are continuing operations to arrest other members of the gang who remain at large or whose identities have not yet been established.

Two cases — one under the robbery law and another under the Arms Act — have been filed with Dhanmondi Model Police Station in connection with the incident, Faruk Hossain said.

Several of the arrestees also have previous criminal cases. Tanvir Ahmed Jewel has four cases related to robbery and snatching, while Sajal Chowdhury has six cases involving robbery and snatching. Zakaria Hossain has two cases involving drugs and murder or attempted murder, while three cases have been filed against Abul Kalam Azad.

The joint commissioner said three of the arrestees are retired army personnel, some of whom had previously served in RAB.

Mujibur Rahman retired from the Bangladesh Army as a sergeant, while Mohammad Zakir Hossain alias Captain Zakir retired as an honorary captain. Solaiman retired as a senior warrant officer.

How the robbery was planned

Faruk Hossain said the victim, Khoshed Alam, had gone to meet members of the gang at a location in Dhanmondi with money to purchase gold.

During discussions over the gold transaction, the victim was taken by rickshaw to the area in front of Dingi Restaurant as part of the gang's plan. A group of four to five robbers led by Lenin was already waiting in the area.

Following their signal, other members of the gang blocked the rickshaw. They then took the money from the victim at close range and assaulted him before several members fled the scene on motorcycles with the cash.

Asked about the involvement of the former army personnel, the joint commissioner said some members of the gang were involved in buying and selling gold.

He said the suspects would find prospective buyers looking to purchase gold and tell them, "We have gold. If you want to buy gold, bring the money."

The parties would then meet at a designated location to discuss the transaction. When they later travelled to another location to exchange the gold for money, the gang would carry out the robbery according to a pre-planned scheme.