Detective Branch (DB) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and Kotwali police in a joint drive have recovered 250 pieces of gold bars worth about Tk12.50 crore and Tk60 lakh in cash from Riazuddin Bazar area’s Bahar Market in the port city.
But police could not arrest anybody in connection with the recovery till yesterday night.
“Acting on a tip-off, a team of the DB and Kotwali police led by Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the DB Md Kamruzzaman conducted a drive on the fifth floor of Bahar Market located in Riazuddin Bazar area around 5:30pm on Monday and found three safes kept in two rooms,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DB Babul Akter.
Failing to open the safes, police sent those to Kotwali police station. Police managed to break the vaults around 1am yesterday after seven hours’ efforts and recovered the gold bars and the cash amount from there.
“During initial investigation, we have learned that one business man named Abu Ahmed has rented one room which was under CCTV surveillance while tenant of another room is yet to be identified,” said Assistant Commissioner Kamruzzaman, adding that the CCTV camera was controlled from room no 4.
While talking to traders and staffs of Bahar Market, this correspondent came to know that the fifth floor had been used as warehouse and employees’ residence.
“Now we are investigating how the gold bars entered into Chittagong and where is its destination and who leads the smuggling syndicate”, said AC Kamruzzaman.
