Criminals target bKash dealers?

Yet another agent of a mobile money transfer service provider was mugged Tk 20 lakh at gunpoint in the capital yesterday.
Mohammad Gias Uddin is the latest victim of recent muggings apparently targeted at employees of bKash distributor company, Al-Jesun Resorts Ltd, who make daily trips between retailers and the bank to deposit money.
Yesterday, Gias of Khilgaon was taking Tk 20 lakh collected from retailers to a bank branch in Motijheel on his motorcycle. When he was in Rajarbagh area, three youths obstructed him. “I stopped my motorbike, and they surrounded me, held a gun to my head and asked me to hand over the money,” said Gias.
The youths made off with the money via Motijheel TNT colony on their getaway motorbike, he said.
“I was going to Motijheel to deposit the money because it was Saturday and most banks are closed. On weekdays, I deposit the money at the branches closest to my home,” said Gias.
He alleged that the mugging was planned since his trips to the bank was routine.
At least three such agents of a bKash distributor were mugged last month.
On April 13, Enamul Islam was stabbed and Tk 8.5 lakh was snatched away from him in Bashabo just as he was getting on to a rickshaw.
On the same day, Rana Mia, 22, was ambushed and mugged in Turag while he was collecting money from retailers.
A few days before that, another distributor was shot right in front of a bank in Mirpur and Tk 10 lakh was taken away.
In February in Barisal, muggers shot an agent and took Tk 60 lakh.