RAB has arrested three people, including the mastermind and the executor, in connection with the robbery of Tk 1.21 crore from DL Filling Station in the capital’s airport area. Tk 4.8 million of the stolen money has been recovered from them. RAB says the robbery was planned after the men became acquainted while in jail, and was carried out by a gang after they were released on bail.
Wing Commander M Z M Intekhab Chowdhury, director of RAB’s Legal and Media Wing, disclosed this information at a press conference at the RAB Media Center in the capital’s Karwan Bazar around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, August 20.
The three arrested are Hakim, the robbery’s main planner; Kawsar, an informant; and Jalil Molla, the executor. Of these, Jalil was arrested from Kaptai in Rangamati.
RAB said that on the morning of August 9, around 10:30 a.m., DL Filling Station’s Tk 1.21 crore was being transported in a small red covered van to be deposited at a bank. When the van reached the front of Crowne Plaza in the Airport police station area, armed robbers on three motorcycles blocked its path, stole the money and fled.
According to RAB, Kawsar regularly visited DL Filling Station to buy fuel. He learned from a station employee that a large sum of money was taken to the bank for deposit each week. He later shared this information with other members of the robbery gang.
Met in jail, plotted the robbery later
RAB official Intekhab Chowdhury said Kawsar met Hakim, who faced charges in 18 cases, while both were in jail over a gold-robbery case in Cumilla. After Hakim was released on bail, the two planned the robbery.
A week before the incident, on August 2, Hakim, Kawsar and Jalil Molla went to DL Filling Station and scouted the entire area. Seven more people were later brought in to carry out the robbery on the ground. Of these, six directly took part in the robbery on three motorcycles, while one stayed near the filling station to relay the money-carrying vehicle’s movements.
RAB said a man named Mustafiz stayed near the filling station and informed other gang members by mobile phone when the red covered van left the station carrying the money. The van was then blocked in front of Crowne Plaza and the money was stolen.
Jalil had Tk 5.3 million
According to RAB, gang members split the stolen money among themselves after the robbery. The main ringleader, Jalil Molla, had Tk 5.3 million. CCTV footage showed he was carrying a pistol during the robbery.
Another accomplice, Sagar Borak, received Tk 1.4 million. He also had a pistol during the robbery. He has already been arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB), and Tk 1.2 million has been recovered from him.
RAB said Mustafiz received Tk 1.4 million, Shawkat Hossain Dipu Tk 1 million, Sohel Tk 1 million, and Ali, who carried a machete, Tk 1 million. Another accomplice who was with Shawkat Hossain Dipu also reportedly received Tk 1 million, according to preliminary information.
RAB said Hakim and Kawsar’s shares of the money had been kept with Jalil. However, because Jalil went into hiding, that money could not be delivered to them.
Arrests made in three stages
RAB said that alongside investigating the robbery, it verified records from two earlier cases and arrested Hakim on the night of August 16. Three foreign-made pistols, three magazines, two rounds of ammunition, two pairs of police-issue handcuffs and a wireless set were recovered from his home.
Based on information provided by Hakim, Kawsar was arrested from Uttara on the morning of August 17. Following leads from his statement, Jalil was arrested from the Kaptai area of Rangamati late on the night of August 18.
Based on information provided by Jalil, an operation was carried out in the Charabagh Modhyapara area of Ashulia, recovering Tk 4.8 million of the Tk 5.3 million he had.
RAB said that during initial questioning, Jalil also disclosed that he and his accomplices were involved in a separate robbery roughly two and a half months ago in Motijheel, involving Tk 1.7 million worth of US dollars. That matter is under investigation.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report