Dhanmondi police have arrested six members of a robbery gang that posed as Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers and a magistrate to carry out a heist in the capital’s Dhanmondi.
The police recovered Tk45,000 in cash and robbery equipment from the suspects.
At a press conference at the DMP Media Center on Thursday, Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Md Masud Alam shared details of the case.
The arrested individuals are Farhad Bin Mosharraf, 33, Yasin Hasan, 22, Mobashwer Ahammad, 23, Wakil Mahmud, 26, Abdullah, 32, and Suman, 29.
The incident took place at the residence of MA Hannan Azad, owner of Alankar Niketan Jewelers in Dhanmondi. His multi-story building houses various offices, including SM Sourcing and a consultancy firm.
In the early hours on Wednesday, the robbers arrived in three microbuses and a private car, claiming to be conducting a RAB-led raid under a magistrate’s supervision. Some wore RAB-branded vests.
At the gate, they threatened the security guards, demanding immediate entry.
When the guards refused and asked them to wait until morning, the gang became aggressive, verbally abusing them and issuing death threats. Some members climbed over the gate and forcibly opened it, allowing the entire group inside.
Once inside, they tied up the security guards, the caretaker, and the drivers.
The gang then broke into the ground-floor office, assaulted an office assistant, and stole Tk45,100.
They later forced their way into the third-floor office of SM Sourcing, restrained three employees, and looted Tk22 lakh from drawers after forcing them to hand over keys.
The gang later broke into the fourth-floor office, ransacked cabinets, and stole Tk13.
Later, they entered MA Hannan Azad’s duplex apartment on the fifth and sixth floors, looting Tk150,000 and gold jewelry (2.5 vori, valued at Tk375,000).
As they attempted to abduct MA Hannan Azad, a Dhanmondi police patrol team arrived and rescued him.
The robbers attacked and injured several police officers.
Later, with the help of bystanders, police managed to arrest six of them.
Arrests and investigation
That same day, the business manager, Touhidul Islam, filed a case at Dhanmondi police station against the arrested individuals, eight fugitives, and 10-12 unidentified accomplices.
Using digital surveillance, police arrested Abdullah and Suman in Hazaribagh early Thursday.
Authorities confirm that the suspects belong to an organized crime syndicate that carries out robberies by impersonating law enforcement officers. Legal proceedings are underway.
