Bank looted thru' tunnel
Robbers have made away with Tk 16.40 crore from a Sonali Bank branch in Kishoreganj by digging a tunnel into the bank's vault, much to the surprise of bank officials and law enforcers.
Two bank officials discovered it yesterday afternoon when they entered the second cell of the bank's vault to get money for transactions.
The robbery might have happened between Friday and Saturday, as the second cell of the vault was checked the last time on Thursday, said Anwar Hossain Khan, superintendent of police in Kishoreganj.
The tunnel was dug to the vault from a nearby building only 20 yards away from the bank on Isa Khan Road at Rathkhola. A narrow alley separates the bank and the building. The policemen stationed at the bank were utterly clueless about the tunnel.
Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, manager of the bank branch, said they learnt about the robbery around 3:00pm after bank's Joint Custodian (cash) Mohsinul Haq and Joint Custodian General Hasna Ahmed Moin entered the vault.
A total of Tk 16.40 crore was kept on a table in the second cell, he said.
"There are two cells in the vault. When we needed more money for transactions, we entered the second cell and found the table empty. Then we spotted the tunnel,” said Mohsinul Haq.
SP Khan said the tunnel was dug from the room of a person named Sohel, who is on the run.
"Nobody knows much about Sohel. He rented the room two years ago and stayed there at times ... The building's owner could not be contacted as she lives in Dhaka”.
Some digging tools were found inside the bank's vault. “Electricity lines from Sohel's room were used to light the tunnel. Undoubtedly, the miscreants spent many days digging the tunnel,” he said.
None was arrested yet in connection with the robbery, said Khan.
"The bank officers are being quizzed.” The eight policemen stationed at the bank were suspended for negligence in duty, he said.
Marjia Akter, who lives close to the scene of the crime, said, “We heard loud sounds at midnight many times, but could never figure out where they came from."
Detective Branch of police and the Criminal Investigation Department are investigating the incident.
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