You withdraw a large sum of money from a bank and leave, unaware that a gang member inside has been watching you. Outside, accomplices wait to pass information about your transaction to five others dressed in law enforcement uniforms. They follow you in a private car, intercept you and claim to be law enforcers. They then try to force you into their car and snatch your money. If they fail to abduct you, they immediately grab the bag of cash and flee.
This is how an organised robbery gang allegedly operates, according to the Dhaka District North Detective Branch (DB) police. Investigators recently began probing the robbery of Tk 26 lakh from an employee of a businessman who was returning to his workplace after withdrawing the money from an IFIC Bank branch in Hemayetpur, Savar, in broad daylight. The robbers were dressed as members of the Rapid Action Battalion [now Special Response Battalion].
Using information technology and CCTV footage from inside the bank, DB police identified a suspect. They later arrested him and two others.
Investigators found that the gang had eight members. One kept watch inside the bank, two remained outside, and five others waited in a microbus or private car, dressed in law enforcement uniforms. The five in the vehicle directly carried out the robberies.
The gang targeted bank customers withdrawing large sums, surveilling them inside banks before following and robbing them.
All eight members, including the ringleader, are from different areas of Madaripur district. So far, DB police have found evidence linking the gang to three incidents, including the robbery in Savar. Three suspects have been arrested, while investigators have identified the remaining five, including the ringleader. Efforts are under way to arrest them.
Dhaka District North DB Officer-in-Charge Saidul Islam spoke to The Daily Star about the gang’s activities and the investigation.
He said that on September 10, around 11:00am, Mohammad Israfil Haque, 38, an employee of RK Enterprise, withdrew Tk 26 lakh from the IFIC Bank branch in Hemayetpur for business purposes.
After leaving the bank with the money, Israfil was crossing the Dhaka-Aricha highway near Hemayetpur bus stand when a private car carrying the gang members intercepted him and the occupants identified themselves as RAB members. They tried to force him into the car. When they failed, the five men snatched the bag containing Tk 26 lakh from his hand and fled.
The following day, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, owner of RK Enterprise, filed a case with Savar Model Police Station. DB police then began a discreet investigation.
CCTV footage from inside the bank showed a suspect watching Israfil as he withdrew the money. The suspect was repeatedly talking to someone over the phone. Investigators followed this lead to identify him.
Saidul Islam said the suspect was Uzzal Sardar, 32, from Alipur village under Kalkini Police Station in Madaripur. By examining Uzzal’s call records, investigators identified several other suspects.
At around 7:30pm on October 8, police arrested Uzzal in the Tekerhat area under Rajoir Police Station in Madaripur. Jewel Sikder, 38, and Tamim Howlader, 25, who were with him on a motorcycle, were also arrested. Both were already on the investigators’ list of suspects.
Members of the SRB-4 Nabinagar camp provided technical assistance for the arrests, while members of the SRB unit in Madaripur assisted with the operation, the officer-in-charge said.
The three arrestees admitted their involvement in the Tk 26 lakh robbery during interrogation, Saidul said.
On the day of the robbery, Uzzal was inside the bank and passed information by mobile phone to Jewel and Tamim, who were waiting outside. After Israfil left the bank with the money, Jewel and Tamim followed him and continued to update the five men waiting in a private car by phone.
The gang members eventually robbed Israfil and fled. Later that night, all eight members gathered at Rifle Square in Dhaka and divided the money.
During remand interrogation, the three arrestees provided details about the remaining five members, including the ringleader. Their names cannot be disclosed in the interest of the investigation, Saidul said.
The gang is also suspected of robbing Tk 12 lakh in Companiganj, Noakhali, on August 30. A customer was returning home after withdrawing the money from a bank when gang members posing as law enforcers robbed him.
On September 27, the gang allegedly robbed another customer of Tk 7 lakh using the same method. The customer had withdrawn the money from a bank in the Bhanga area of Faridpur district and was returning home.
The three arrestees told investigators that the gang mainly targeted customers withdrawing large sums of money from banks.
Cases have been filed with the respective police stations over the incidents in Companiganj and Bhanga. The three arrestees will also be shown arrested in those cases. Uzzal has already given a confessional statement before a court, admitting his involvement in all three incidents.
Police advice
Advising bank customers, Saidul said they should not go to banks alone when withdrawing large sums of money. They should also seek police assistance.
If customers request police assistance when withdrawing large amounts of money, police provide support. If police accompany customers while they withdraw or carry cash, the gang will not be able to carry out such robberies, he added.
Source:https://www.thedailystar.net/news/crime-justice/news/the-robbery-trap-waiting-after-bank-withdrawal-4298571
