PABNA — An armed gang looted five jewelry shops and several merchants’ homes in Bhangura upazila of Pabna, making off with gold and cash worth nearly 2 crore taka (about $1.7 million), victims said.
The robbery took place late Wednesday at Ashtamanisha Bazar in Bhangura upazila, victims said. Locals called for help during the raid, but no one came forward, creating panic in the area.
Police have launched an investigation and assured the gang would be arrested quickly.
According to CCTV footage and witness accounts, an armed gang of 10 to 25 men entered the bazaar by speedboat through the Gumani River. They first tied up two night guards at gunpoint, then broke locks on jewelry shops and began the looting. They also entered homes next to the bazaar, beat family members and seized money and valuables. The gang fled around 4:30 a.m. by speedboat downriver.
Victims said the robbers were armed with guns, sharp weapons and other equipment that made resistance impossible.
According to affected merchants, at least 40 bhori of gold ornaments and nearly 2 crore taka in cash were taken. Aftab Jewelers lost 40 lakh taka in cash and a large quantity of gold ornaments; Tapan Jewelers lost 42 lakh taka in cash and gold ornaments; Ratan Jewelers lost 45 lakh taka in cash and gold ornaments. Family members were also beaten and injured.
Other shops — Uttam Jewelers, Madhu Jewelers, Maa Jewelers and Akhi Jewelers — were also looted, raising the total amount stolen.
Ratan’s son Ranjan Karmakar said the robbers broke the shop locks, looted gold, then entered the house, beat his mother and him, and took 10 bhori of gold and 15 lakh taka in cash.
The Bhangura police officer-in-charge said an investigation was underway and the culprits would be arrested soon.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report