Bogra bank heist culprits still at large

Staff Reporter
Police failed to arrest anyone of the burglars who were involved in stealing Tk 32.51 lakh from Adamdighi Upazila branch of Sonali Bank [SB] in Bogra district by digging a tunnel to the bank’s vault from a nearby shop, though 24 hours have already been elapsed in the meantime.
The police, however, picked up 12 people, including the branch manager, on suspicion. Of them, seven persons were taken to the police custody on Sunday morning and other five suspects had been nabbed soon after the incident of the daring heist came to light on Saturday.
The police yesterday also found Tk 1, 72,000 in the tunnel probably left by the burglars during their quick departure with the booty. Following the recovery, the sum of the stolen money now stands at Tk 30, 79, 000.
A special team of investigators, comprising the members of police, DB, CID, RAB and other agencies, has been interrogating the persons to find any clue to the incident.
When contacted, Md Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge, Adamdighi police station, told The New Nation yesterday evening, “We have picked up 12 persons including the prime suspect cashier of the branch Md Azharul Islam. They are still not arrested as we are yet to get solid proof about their involvement.” He said, “We are quizzing Branch Manager Shamsuddin Sharif in connection with the burglary. We are allowing him to discharge his official duties, as he keeps keys of almirahs and safes. But he is under round-the-clock surveillance of the police.”
 “The police recovered some apparatus, including two gas cylinders, used in breaking open the vault from the spot. We will launch a drive soon to recover the total money,” the OC added.
According to the police, the detainees were security guard Ruhul Amin, factory owner Abdul Latif and four carpenters- Nazrul Islam, Shariful Islam, Wahed Ali and Mridul. Police on the previous day also nabbed two guards of the bank, and an employee and an owner of the furniture shop. Deputy General Manager of SB Bogra Zone Abdus Salam filed a case with Adamdighi police station against some unknown people in this connection on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Bank and SB authorities yesterday formed two probe committees in this regard. Of them, SB formed a four-member committee headed by Rajshahi Zone General Manager ATM Afzal Hossain. Besides, the central bank BB formed another three-member probe body headed by Deputy General Manager Murtoza Ali. The SB authorities have also decided to soon employ experienced army personnel to provide security to its vaults.
As well, the top officials of SB will pay visit to its 1200 branches across the country.
The above decisions were taken yesterday at the bank’s headquarters in the city’s Motijheel area chaired by Managing Director Pradip Kumar. In a similar incident on January 25, some burglars in a filmy style had tunneled into the vault of SB main branch in Kishoreganj district town and took away Tk 16.40 crore.
Officials at the bank had noticed a 15-foot long tunnel, dug up during the weekend that led to the vault from an abandoned room of a house next to the bank. Two days after the Kishoreganj heist, the RAB arrested two robbers including the mastermind Sohel Rana and recovered Tk 16.19 crore from them, stuffed in five sacks.
But the police are yet to finales the charge sheet of Kishoreganj heist while Tk 21 lakh is yet to be recovered. The robbers said they have spent that to buy a truck full of rice for the Pir of Atroshi – a claim that needs to be crosschecked.