5 arrested over Uttara filling station robbery

Police have arrested five people in connection with the robbery of Tk 1.21 crore from a filling station in the capital’s Uttara area while the money was being transported to a bank.

A joint team of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) and Uttara Crime Division arrested the suspects in separate raids in Siddhirganj and Bandar in Narayanganj, Matuail, Kajlarpar in Jatrabari, and Postogola on Friday.

The arrestees are Ilias Shikdar, 36, Jafar, 36, Robiul Islam alias Rubel, 34, Mintu Rari, 23, and Sagar Baroi, 40.

DMP Additional Commissioner and DB chief Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrests at a press briefing on Saturday. 

He said police recovered four 7.65mm pistols, six magazines, 21 rounds of ammunition, Tk 12 lakh in stolen cash, fake RAB identification cards, vests, caps, walkie-talkies, handcuffs, several number plates and a motorcycle.

He said all five were professional criminals with multiple previous cases against them.

On August 9 at about 10:30am, DL Filling Station manager Abdul Karim and three others were taking Tk 1.21 crore to a bank. 

When they reached the BRT lane near Crown Plaza on Dhaka-Mymensingh Road, under the Airport Police Station, a group of robbers riding motorcycles intercepted them.

The attackers threatened and assaulted them with firearms and machetes before fleeing with the money, BD chief said.

Police said the arrested suspects initially admitted to being directly involved in the robbery. Efforts are underway to arrest their other accomplices and recover the remaining stolen money.