In a major incident of organised robbery on Friday night armed muggers ambushed vehicles on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf highway.
At least 50 people were injured in the robbery. The robbers looted cash and valuables worth millions.
The incident occurred around 10pm when a gang of 20-25 robbers swooped on vehicles going through the Panerchora Dhala area of Cox’s Bazar until finally police intervened more than an hour later.
According to eyewitness accounts, scores of vehicles including night coaches, vans, lorries and trucks came under attack during this time. There were children among those injured.
However, the exact number of vehicles attacked, amount of losses occurred and the number of people injured couldn’t be verified. Among valuables looted were gold ornaments, mobile phone sets and other electronic gadgets.
Mohammad Ali, driver of a sand-laden truck which had come under attack, said the robbers put up barricades on the highway to intercept moving vehicles.
The robbers looted about Tk400, 000 worth of valuables from a van owned by Incepta Pharmaceuticals Limited. Its driver, Abdur Rahim, said he couldn’t do anything or make any protest as they were carrying lethal weapons.
The scale of the crime and the way it was carried out is unprecedented in the recent past, triggering fresh concern over highway safety ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Md Azad Mia, the local police superintendent, said: “As soon as we came to learn of the incident we instructed police to take action.”
