A tense situation is prevailing at Ruma and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarbans on Friday although the police assured the locals that there is no reason to panic.
On Friday afternoon, local people were seen leaving the area in five Chander Gari (motorised vehicles) from Thanchi Bazar area on Friday morning.
Local resident Didarul Alam said, I am sending my wife and two children to Satkania. There is shooting going on here. I am afraid of my childrens safety. The Eid festival is near. So, I am sending them to Satkaniya for their security.
Steps are also being taken to conduct operations against those involved in these incidents. Security measures have been intensified for public and private banks in Khagrachhari district following the incidents of bank robberies in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban.
A day after robberies in two banks by suspected separatists in Bandarbans Thanchi, security forces have engaged in an intense gunfight with a group of armed men for over an hour on Thursday.
The Kuki-Chin National Front, aka the Bawm Party, conducted the three bank robberies in Bandarban to show off their capacity, according to Rapid Action Battalion spokesman Commander Khandaker Al Moin.
"There are several regional organisations in Bandarban," the Director of RABs Law and Media Wing said.
"The bank robbery, arms robbery, kidnapping, and attacks in Bandarbans Ruma and Thanchi were carried out by armed members of the KNF to show off their supremacy, inspire new recruits, and demonstrate the organisations capacity to their associates across the world."
Al Moin made the remarks during a press conference at the Bandarban Hill District Councils conference room on Friday.
Armed men attacked three branches of Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank in the Ruma and Thanchi Upazilas of Bandarban on Tuesday and Wednesday. They looted money from the banks, beat the officials and kidnapped a bank manager. They also stole several weapons and ammunition.
Connections were found between the attacks and the KNF, a separatist group operating in the Hill Tracts. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has also spoken about the involvement of KNF in these incidents.
RAB rescued manager Nezam Uddin, a bank manager who was abducted during the robbery of Sonali Bank in Ruma on Thursday night, amid fear and panic among the residents of the two upazilas throughout the day. Commander Al Moin said work is underway to identify those involved in the attacks.
"The process of identifying them is underway by scrutinising the CCTV footage. They will be brought to justice." Before the recent attacks, the KNF members were involved in various criminal activities including giving weapons training to militants in exchange for money, said the RAB official.
Regarding the recovery of the bank manager and weapons, Commander Al Moin said, "Although the weapons and ammunition stolen from Ruma could not be recovered, the RAB, army and police, took no risk and used their tactics to recover abducted Ruma Sonali Bank Manager Nezam Uddin. He was healthy when he was rescued."
However, due to reasons of confidentiality, the RAB official did not disclose the strategy adopted.
Steps are also being taken to conduct operations against those involved in these incidents and police are preparing cases against them as well, Al Moin added.
Security measures have been intensified for public and private banks in Khagrachhari district following the incidents of bank robberies in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban.
Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman told this to media on Friday morning. He said managers of public and private banks in the district said there is no concern over the security.
But security measures have been increased following the bank robberies in Bandarban. In addition, vigilance by the law enforcement agencies has also been tightened. DC Sahiduzzaman said along with the banks own security, the number of police personnel has been increased at the banks.
The banking security issue was discussed with importance in the core committee meeting, the DC added.
The Rapid Action Battalion rescued the abducted bank manager on Thursday night and handed him over to his family on Friday morning.
A total of six cases have been filed in Ruma, and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban over the bank robbery and the abduction of a bank official in the district.
Three cases were lodged with Ruma upazila where another with Thanchi police station in this regard, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Raihan Kazem said Friday afternoon. He said that a case was filed against unknown persons over the bank robbery.
Meanwhile, after inspecting the Thanchi police station, Chattogram range ADIG of police, Sanjay Sarkar said that Kuki fired at the police station.
On Tuesday night, the members of the armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) attacked the Ruma Upazila Parishad office, tried to rob Sonali Banks Ruma Branch in Bandarban, and abducted its manager Nezam Uddin. He also said, "We are trying to collect CCTV footage. What their ultimate target is also under investigation."
