They are 34 in number. Each one is a millionaire. They own covered goods delivery vans and buildings and allegedly have bundles of money stashed away in their bank accounts. They all have lawyers to fight legal battles on their behalf.
The 34, though influential in their localities, have been blacklisted in a Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Detective Branch (DB) report, after investigators implicated them in the systematic theft of covered vans in the port city.
Dhaka Tribune recently got hold of the DB report which listed the details of the 34 goods delivery van thieves, including a local Awami League (AL) leader.
According to the DB report, Jasim Uddin alias Loha Jasim, 65, who heads the list of covered van thieves, stands accused in six cases lodged with the city’s Bandar, Patenga, Pahartoli and Halishahar police stations.
The investigation found that stealing vans had transformed him, within six short years, from poverty into a millionaire.
“Jasim has a two-storey building in the city’s Bandar area and seven covered vans. He owns land in the port city’s Karnaphuli and Bandar areas, and in Rangamati and Feni districts. Locals know him as Loha Jasim. He travelled to the capital by air to appear before the High court,” said the DB report.
The report said Jasim runs a crime ring comprised of covered van drivers and helpers that steal covered vans and vehicle parts. One of the vehicles is in custody at Chouddogram police station in Comilla district.
His manager, Saiful Islam, who resides in Dhaka, was also implicated in the report.
Refuting the allegation, the listed thief told the Dhaka Tribune that business rivals had intentionally provided false information about him to the police in order to harass him.
Showing audacity, he said: “I am gaining popularity for free due to this campaign. However, there is no evidence against me.”
Bandar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Jahedul Islam said Jasim was once a covered van driver who became rich by stealing vans.
A local AL leader, Salman Mohammad Fakhruddin alias Rajib alias Diamond Rajib, 36, the son of former Chittagong City Corporation councillor Mohammad Shukkur, stands accused in three cases including two arms cases lodged with the city’s Bandar and Sadarghat police stations.
He allegedly stole covered vans after getting tip-offs from transport organisations and Chittagong Port sources, the DB report said.
One of his associates, Anwar Hossain alias Babul, who spends most of his time residing at different residential hotels in the city’s Kadamtoli area, was allegedly a major information gatherer for the gang.
Sayed alias Sylhetya Sayed, resident of the Nimtola area of the city, allegedly controls a covered van theft syndicate that operates in Dhaka and Sylhet, but police are still gathering evidence before filing a case, DB sources said.
Nur Mohammad, Ibrahim Sowdagor, Titu and Shahabuddin all own fabrics shops in the city and are involved with stealing fabric from different garments and textile good-laden covered vans.
Amir Hossain of Lakshmipur district, Masud alias Picchi Masud and his brother Jahangir of the Halishahar area of the city, his associates Rashed of the same area and Jamal Hossain, Jasim alias Lengra (lame) Jasim, Nabi Sohag alias Nabi Newaj, Mohammad Biplob, Jasim, Bacchu, Kamal Hossain, Ismail, Mir Hossain alias Sumon Mia, Azad Hossain, Mohammad Irfan, Toyeb, his assoiciates Ledu Majhi and Shah Alam, Khan Saheb, Tula Jashim, Azad, Nasir, Jahangir Alam alias Babu, Mohammad Ali and Koli Madam, the lone woman thief, were also mentioned in the DB report on covered van theft.
All of them are accused in cases lodged with different police stations in the port city, the DB report added.
CMP Assistant Commissioner (Port) Jahangir Alam said that covered van theft is a sophisticated crime. Most of the thieves are elites in their communities, he said, adding that police were collecting evidence against them.
Covered van theft was exceptional because rich people were involved in the crime, said CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (West) Tanvir Arafat.
CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Prevention) Banaz Kumar Majumdar said covered van thieves in Chittagong had links with thieves in different districts.
“We are updating the DB list to arrest those involved,” he said.
He added that covered van theft had turned into a matter of great concern in the port city.