Dhaka Police Deny Alleged Highway Robberies, Sparking Controversy
Dhaka District Police have vehemently denied allegations of two daylight robberies on moving passenger buses along the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on April 11, 2025. The police, in a statement released on their official Facebook page, labeled the media reports as "misinformation" and asserted that their investigations revealed no such incidents occurred. This denial contradicts eyewitness accounts and victim testimonies published by several media outlets, including The Business Standard, which detailed the alleged robberies involving passengers being held at knifepoint and robbed of their valuables.
The alleged robberies reportedly took place between 11:30 am and 12 pm on April 11th. One incident allegedly unfolded on a Rajdhani Paribahan bus near the C&B area, while the other purportedly occurred on a Savar Paribahan bus near Bank Town Bridge. Victims and eyewitnesses claimed that armed men boarded the moving buses, forced the drivers to stop, and proceeded to rob passengers of cash and jewelry.
The police statement, however, claims that after a thorough investigation involving interviews with alleged victims, bus drivers, assistants, and on-site evidence collection, no robbery took place. They further emphasized the absence of any official complaints filed at the Savar Model Police Station regarding these incidents. The police statement suggests that these reports are part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image and morale of the police force.
This official denial has been met with strong opposition from those who claim to have witnessed and experienced the robberies. Jannatul Ferdous, a Jahangirnagar University student, recounted the alleged robbery on the Rajdhani Paribahan bus, describing how three knife-wielding men boarded the bus, forced it to stop, and robbed the passengers. Similarly, Tayefur Rahman, a Savar-based senior journalist, recounted his experience on the Savar Paribahan bus where he, his wife, and child were allegedly robbed by a group of men armed with knives. Both individuals stand by their initial accounts despite the police denial.
Senior police officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police (Detective Branch) Md Tariqul Islam and Additional Superintendent (Savar Circle) Md Shahinur Kabir, reiterated the official stance, stating that no evidence supports the robbery claims and that no complaints have been received. They further claimed that the individuals mentioned in media reports, including Jannatul Ferdous and Tayefur Rahman, later denied the incidents ever occurred. Shahinur Kabir went further, accusing the woman who made the allegation of "acting" and placing her under police surveillance. He also accused two journalists, Hafiz Uddin from Daily Manab Zamin and Sanjib Saha from Daily Bangladesher Alo, of spreading the rumor.
The accused journalists, Hafiz Uddin and Sanjib Saha, have vehemently denied the allegations, emphasizing they based their reports on eyewitness accounts and victim testimonies. They have challenged the police to investigate their claims thoroughly and take appropriate action if they find any evidence of rumor-mongering. Similarly, both Ferdous and Rahman insist their initial accounts are accurate and express bewilderment at the police’s denial. Rahman suggests the police are attempting to avoid acknowledging the incidents, while Ferdous questions the police’s motives for labeling her a liar. This incident has sparked a significant controversy, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the handling of such allegations by law enforcement. The conflicting narratives between the police and those claiming to be victims and eyewitnesses underscore the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the truth and ensure justice is served.