Bangladesh News

The mastermind of Brac Bank heist at its Dhanmondi branch has been identified by detective police, but he is yet to be arrested, investigators said yesterday.

The detectives are now verifying suspected involvement of staff of the bank and Hotel Nidmahal upstairs, and even the locker renters.

Earlier on Thursday night, the case was shifted to Detective Branch (DB) of police from Mohammadpur police.

“We have already identified the mastermind of the heist. He is yet to be arrested but would be caught shortly,”Additional Deputy Commissioner of DB Md Asaduzzaman said when contacted yesterday.

Meanwhile, three of the eight people arrested so far in connection with the robbery –Raja, Majnu and his sister Moina arrested from Munshiganj early Thursday–were placed on a five-day remand yesterday. They were produced before court seeking a 10-day remand.

Another arrestee, Maheb Alam Chowdhury picked up Thursday night from the city, would be produced before court today, seeking remand, DB sources said.

DB Inspector AKM Nasir Ullah, investigation officer (IO) of the case, said four other arrestees –Nidmahal hotel employees Shah Alam, Supon Barua, Sujan and Monir– on a four-day remand since January, were taken to DB custody Thursday midnight.

A DB team early Thursday arrested Raja, Majnu and his sister Moina from their Munshiganj house and recovered 141 tolas of gold ornaments, 13 tolas of silver ornaments, two diamond rings, a diamond piece, a gold made wristwatch and Tk 3 lakh from their possession.

Following their confession, DB police Thursday night picked up Maheb Alam Chowdhury from the city’s Gulistan and recovered over 50 tolas of gold ornaments, two diamond pieces, an electric drill machine, two mobile phone sets, three cheque books and other valuables from his Mirpur residence.

Maheb Alam, who hails from Mehendiganj in Barisal and is a resident of Mirpur Section- 7, yesterday said, “Raja kept the ornaments with me on Saturday and I am not involved in the robbery.”

The deputy commissioner of DB said, “The arrestees are also involved in several other criminal acts. Some high-ups are also involved in this offence”, he said declining to give their identities at the moment.

In reply to a question, he said, “We are yet to confirm involvement of the bank and hotel staff, and locker holders. But during the interrogation, we have come to know that the offenders had committed several other heists earlier, including a robbery in Cox’s Bazar.”

The robbers had made off with gold ornaments and other valuables, primarily estimated at several crore taka, breaking open 75 safe deposit lockers at Dhanmondi branch of Brac Bank between January 3 and January 7. The robbers entered the locker room cutting through the floor of a hotel room right above the locker room.