A case has been filed at Mirzapur police station in Tangail three days after a robbery and harassment incident on a Rajshahi-bound bus on the Dhaka-Tangail highway.
Passenger Omar Ali filed the case against unidentified accused at Mirzapur police station on Friday morning. The case has been filed against 8 to 9 unidentified individuals.
The robbery took place on a bus named Amri Travels, operated by Unique Road Royals (registration number: Mymensingh-B-11-0069) early on Tuesday, between Gazipur’s Chandra and Tangail’s Mirzapur.
Following the case, DB police, plainclothes police, and teams from the local police station are working to arrest the accused.
According to the case statement, on February 17 at around 11:30pm, the bus departed from Gabtoli bus stand in Dhaka for Baraigram in Natore district, carrying 30 to 35 passengers.
“At around 12am, the bus reached Hemayetpur bus stand in Savar, where 10 to 12 more passengers boarded. The bus stopped for a tea break at Chandra bypass in Gazipur, where it stood for 10-15 minutes and took on another three to four new passengers,” it added.
It also said: “At around 1:30am, after crossing the Kharajora flyover bridge near Hi-Tech City Park in Kaliakair, 8 to 9 robbers, who were disguised as passengers, stood up together. At that time, they threatened everyone to remain silent by brandishing sharp knives and machetes.”
Passengers recount robbery on Dhaka-Rajshahi busThe case statement said: “Three of the robbers held a knife to the driver’s throat and forced him out of his seat. One of the robbers took control of the driver's seat and started driving the bus. When the bus reached Mirzapur upazila, the robbers looted money, mobile phones, and other valuables from the passengers.”
“Later, the gang took a U-turn near Nasir Glass in Natiapara, Mirzapur, and started heading back toward Dhaka. They drove the bus around various areas in Gazipur, including Kaliakair and Konabari, for about two to two and a half hours. During this time, two female passengers were harassed,” it further added.
According to the case statement, after looting money and other valuables from all the passengers, at around 4am, the robbers turned the bus back toward Tangail and got off near Nandan Park in Barai Para.
It added: “Later, the driver took the bus to Chandra Mor, where the passengers called the National Emergency Service at 999 and informed the police about the incident. A patrolling police team soon arrived. When the passengers described the robbery in detail, the patrolling police advised them to go to Mirzapur police station.”
The passengers and the bus supervisor informed the duty officer at Mirzapur police station verbally and then continued their journey toward Rajshahi.
When the bus reached Baraigram police station in Natore, three to four passengers got off and, with the help of local people, detained the driver, helper, and supervisor. When the matter was reported to Baraigram police, they took the three individuals into custody and filed a case.
The plaintiff Omar Ali said: “They looted money, mobile phones, and valuables from all the passengers. There were several female passengers on the bus. Among them, two were sexually harassed. We demand the immediate arrest of those involved.”
Mirzapur police station's OC Mosharraf Hossain said: “DB police, plainclothes police, and the police station team are working to arrest the accused.”
Regarding this, Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman said: “Although the incident took place across several districts, we have voluntarily accepted the case after talking to everyone. Multiple police teams are working on this case. I hope the suspects will be arrested soon.”
