Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has arrested five people over the robbery of Tk 1.21 crore from a petrol pump in Uttara, allegedly linked to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s maternal cousin Tasin Akhtar Haque.
Police also recovered RAB-marked vests, fake identity cards, firearms and other equipment allegedly used in the robbery. The suspected mastermind remains at large.
The arrestees are: Md Ilias Shikdar, 36, Jafar, 36, Md Rabiul Islam alias Rubel, 34, Mintu Rari, 23, and Sagar Baroi, 40.
Additional Police Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday.
He said four employees of DL Filling Station were carrying Tk 1.21 crore to a bank around 10:30am on August 9 when a group of motorcycle-borne robbers intercepted them near Crown Plaza on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Road.
The robbers allegedly threatened and assaulted them with firearms and machetes before fleeing with the money.
Following the incident, the DB and Uttara Crime Division launched a joint investigation. Acting on intelligence, police arrested Ilias Shikdar and Jafar in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj.
Police later recovered three RAB-marked vests, two caps, fake RAB identity cards, number plates, walkie-talkies, handcuffs, two 7.65mm pistols, three magazines and six rounds of ammunition from Ilias’s rented home in Bandar.
Rubel and Mintu were subsequently arrested in Matuail and Kazlarpar, respectively. Police recovered Tk 3 lakh in stolen cash from Rubel’s residence, while a raid on Mintu’s home yielded four RAB-marked vests, fake RAB IDs, number plates, walkie-talkies, handcuffs, two pistols, three magazines and 15 rounds of ammunition.
Based on information provided by Rubel and Mintu, police arrested Sagar from his rented home in Postogola and recovered Tk 9 lakh in stolen cash.
Shafiqul Islam said the stolen money was divided among the gang, with the masterminds taking larger shares and others receiving portions for providing logistical support. Sagar received Tk 9 lakh but had not spent it, he added.
The DB chief said ballistic checks showed that the recovered firearms were not weapons looted from police but had been illegally acquired.
He said the mastermind remains at large and that investigators had found no prior personal connection between the suspect and the victim.
According to police, the gang targeted the petrol pump after learning that several days’ cash had accumulated because banks were closed during the holidays. The group allegedly planned the robbery knowing the money would be deposited once the banks reopened.
Police said efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects and recover the rest of the stolen money.