Witness emerges as Kamrangirchar robbery mastermind

Police have arrested a housewife who was listed as a witness in a robbery case, alleging that she was the mastermind behind the high-profile heist at a residential building in Dhaka’s Kamrangirchar.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (DC-Lalbagh Division) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Wednesday that the robbery was planned by Jesmin, a resident of the same building.

To avoid suspicion, Jesmin consoled the victims after the robbery and even had her name included as a witness in the case statement, he said, and adding that however, police later uncovered her involvement during the investigation.

Police arrested four people in connection with the robbery, including Jesmin. The others are Md Sajib Alam, 29, Md Ripon Mia, 42, and Md Faruk Khan, 50. Officers recovered Tk 220,000 in cash, stolen gold ornaments, and three mobile phones used during the robbery.

Talebur Rahman said that Jesmin, who lived on the seventh floor of the building, learned that nearly Tk 20 lakh in pension money belonging to a deceased tenant had been kept in a fifth-floor flat. She then devised a plan to rob the apartment.

Following the plan, five robbers entered the flat shortly after evening on July 18. They tied up and assaulted three women before fleeing with around Tk 20 lakh in cash, about three bhori of gold ornaments, and four mobile phones, he added.