In a special operation by the District Detective Branch (DB) of Bogura in the Shibganj upazila area, four suspects have been arrested in connection with the looting of 102 tolas of gold by individuals impersonating police officers. A total of BDT 8.8 million (88 lakh) in cash, obtained from selling the looted gold, was also recovered. According to the written complaint filed by the complainant, Md. Khairul Islam, with the Superintendent of Police and the Officer-in-Charge of Shibganj Police Station, he is a reputed gold trader with an established jewelry shop in the Golap Patti area of Bogura city. On October 5 at around 11:00 AM, he sent his cousin, Md. Bappi Hossain (27), to carry 10 raw gold bars (Tezabi gold) of 24-carat, weighing a total of 102 tolas and 12 ana, to Joypurhat district by bus.
Around 12:05 PM, when his cousin Md. Bappi Hossain reached the Utholi area on the Mokamtola-Joypurhat road in Shibganj upazila, 3 to 4 unidentified individuals—posing as police officers—intercepted the bus. They forcefully dragged Bappi Hossain off the vehicle, beat him up, and looted the 10 raw gold bars along with his mobile phone. The perpetrators then left him injured in an open field at Gujiya Hat Mondolpara on Bala Road, Shibganj upazila, and fled the scene. Following the complaint, Shibganj Police Station registered a case (FIR No. 33, dated October 27) under sections 170/394 of the Penal Code.
Under the directives of Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayem Mahmud (PPM), a elite team led by Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Jahangir Kabir and SI Mohammad Fazlul Haque of the District Detective Branch conducted special operations across various police stations in Panchagarh, Dinajpur, and Joypurhat districts.
During the operations, the prime suspect, Md. Sadikul Islam (20), son of Md. Shafikul Islam of South Basudebpur, Hakimpur police station, Dinajpur district, was arrested from the Torinoyhat area of Tetulia upazila in Panchagarh district. Based on his information, a subsequent raid was conducted near the Hakimpur Upazila Women's College area in Dinajpur district, leading to the arrest of the second suspect, Md. Alamgir Hossain (43), son of late Atoar Ali and Most. Chobiron Bewa of South Basudebpur, Hakimpur, Dinajpur. During a search of Alamgir’s residence, BDT 2.9 million (29 lakh) in cash, acquired from selling the stolen gold, was recovered and seized at his indication. Following further interrogation of the detained suspects and with the aid of technology, the 3rd suspect, Md. Rabiul Islam (26), son of Md. Ansar Ali and Most. Khadiza Begum of Bhempur, Panchবিবি, Joypurhat, and the 4th suspect, Md. Asaduzzaman Shahid (28), son of Md. Aminul Islam Mukul and Most. Shanti Ara Begum of Balighata Bazar, Panchbibi, Joypurhat, were arrested from the Bhempur area of Panchbibi upazila, Joypurhat district.
Upon further interrogation, based on the information provided by the accused, BDT 1.8 million (18 lakh) in cash from the sale of the looted gold was recovered from the residence of detained suspect Md. Sadikul Islam in South Basudebpur, Women's College village, Dinajpur. Additionally, BDT 4.1 million (41 lakh) in cash from the sale of the looted gold was recovered from the office room of a cattle farm belonging to detained suspect Asaduzzaman Shahid in Boromanik village, Panchbibi upazila, Joypurhat. In total, BDT 8.8 million (88 lakh) in cash was recovered and seized. Notably, arrested suspect Alamgir has 10 pending cases against him in court involving drug offenses, the Special Powers Act, and assault, while suspect Rabiul has 3 drug-related cases pending in court.
