Robbers knew which microbus to hit: DB
The robbers, who carried out the Tk 11.25 crore heist in Uttara, waited for a specific cash-carrying microbus in Mirpur DOHS area early in the morning of Thursday, detectives have claimed.
They said the robbers rented a black Toyota Hiace and got into the vehicle in Kurmitola around 5:30 in the morning. They immediately overpowered the driver and tied him up and put him in the back seat.
After the robbery, they went to the 300 Feet area, broke into two trunks, and stashed the money in two sacks and five bags, according to the Detective Branch (DB) of police.
They left behind a bag, two intact trunks, and the driver in the Hiace.
The DB raided Banani and Uttara in the capital and places in Sylhet and Sunamganj yesterday and the day before. It arrested eight men and recovered Tk 2.54 crore, DB Chief Muhammad Harun Or Rashid told a press conference at the DMP Media Centre yesterday.
The arrestees, Sanowar Hossain, 28; Emon alias Milon, 33; Badrul Alam, 33; Mizanur Rahman, 20; Sonai Mia, 28; Enamul Haque Badsha, 26; Akash Matbor, 25; and Sagar Matbor, 22, have been placed on a five-day remand each.
The DB did not share more about the arrestees.
It arrested Sanowar in Banani area and recovered Tk 1.14 crore from him on Saturday night. After raiding Emon's Joar Sahara house, the DB recovered Tk 32.47 lakh.
The DB also arrested the Hiace driver, Akash, and his brother Sagar, claiming that they took Tk 1.07 crore from one of the trunks the robbers left behind.
The DB claimed that it recovered the Tk 1.07 crore from their Dakhshin Khan home.
The robbery was committed in Turag area around 7:15am on Thursday when officials of Money Plant Link Private Ltd, the firm hired for transporting money to DBBL ATMs, were heading towards Savar EPZ in a rickety Toyota Noah from Mirpur DOHS with Tk 11.25 crore in four trunks.
DB sources said during the robbery, some of the robbers used masks and gloves.
They reached the 300 Feet area in the capital around 9:00am. They changed their clothes inside the microbus. They left a bag on the passenger seat and untied the driver before leaving.
Driver Akash took the bag and filled it with cash and gave it to his brother, the DB claimed.
Earlier, Turag police said the driver informed police about the robbery and helped them recover the trunks.
Hours after the incident on Thursday, detectives detained seven people for questioning, including five officials and staffers of Money Plant and the driver of the microbus robbed. They were released the next day.
On Thursday evening, without opening the trunks, DB Chief Harun told reporters that the most of the money was recovered and he assumed it could be about Tk 9 crore.
But when the trunks were opened at the Turag Police Station, officials found Tk 3,89,50,000.
A total of Tk 6.43 crore has been recovered so far.
Harun said there were no armed security guards in the Money Plant microbus. Money Plant had not informed the police about the service it provides even though it has been doing this business for a long time.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Money Plant Managing Director Joshoda Jibon Debnath said they have presented enough documents to the law enforcers that they were carrying Tk 11.25 crore that day.
"I want all the money back. If there is involvement of anyone from Money Plant, the DB can look into too," he added.
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