Robbery, molestation in moving bus: 3 arrested

Police in Tangail have arrested three persons in connection with the robbery and molestation of female passengers on a moving Rajshahi-bound bus on the Dhaka-Tangail highway.

Tangail Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman disclosed the information at a press conference around 11 am on Saturday (February 22).

Earlier, Tangail district police arrested them from Genda area under Savar Model Thana in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

The arrestees are Shahidul Islam alias Muhit, 29, Sobuj, 30, and Sharifuzzaman alias Sharif, 28.

The superintendent of police said, “Three stolen mobile phones, Tk 29,370 in cash and a knife used to commit robbery have been recovered from the arrestees. The operation is ongoing to arrest the rest of those involved in the incident.”

On Monday night (February 17), a group of robbers boarded the bus and, over a span of three hours, looted passengers’ belongings and molested female passengers.

Citing victims of the incident, media reports said the Unique Road Royals bus left Gabtoli at around 11pm on Monday with around 40 passengers. The robbery started at around 12:30am on Tuesday when the bus reached Tangail’s Mirzapur.

The incident took place after the bus picked up 8 to 9 people in the guise of passengers from the road in the Chandra area of Gazipur.

Meanwhile, the bus supervisor, driver, and the driver’s assistant were initially detained but they have been released on bail due to a lack of specific charges against them.

The Baraigram Administrative Court granted their bail plea on Wednesday (February 19), according to court sources.

They have been released on bail on the condition of appearing at the Mirzapur Police Station as the incident took place in an area under its jurisdiction.

A case has been filed three days after a robbery and molestation incident occurred.