250 blank passport books looted from Khulna office

Three armed unidentified young men stormed into Khulna passport office and looted 250 blank passport books from steal almirahs on Tuesday.

According to an FIR lodged with Sonadanga thana, the young men came on a motorcycle at about 3:30 pm, snatched keys of steel almirahs from Assistant Director Roshanur Zaman, looted the blank passport books (serial No W-0121601 to 0121850) and sped away.

According to clerk Afazuddin, the looters kept nine officials and staff confined in their rooms in the ground floor. They then went to the room of the Assistant Director and looted the passport books.

According to security guard Mohammod Khorshed and peon Shahabuddin, the armed young left within 15 minutes. "We could not resist them because we were unarmed", the security guard said.

"The incident is mysterious because I do not understand what they (looters) will do with blank passport books", said a senior official of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). Messages have been sent to all border immigration offices, he said.

Clerk Afazuddin, peon Shahabuddin and security guard Khorshed were taken to custody and released after three hours' questioning.

Five suspects were arrested on Wednesday.

Sonadanga thana OC Nesar Ahmed told this correspondent that looters and arrested persons may be members of an organised gang.

"We are trying to detect if Tuesday's incident is linked to the recovery of 67 fake passport books earlier", the OC said.

Director General of Passport Wahidul Huq and Deputy Director Nazmul Islam come from Dhaka and visited Khulna passport office. They held a close-door meeting with officials.

When asked, Wahidul Huq refused to comment as the matter is under investigation.

"We are closely watching some staff of the passport office suspecting their link with fake passport racketeers", said the OC.