The individuals involved in the robbery of a moving bus traveling from Dhaka to Rajshahi were drug addicts. Their primary motive for the crime was to collect money for purchasing drugs. The police revealed that the gang members sold the stolen mobile phones to buy marijuana. Through tracing the drug dealer who supplied them, law enforcement managed to track down the suspects. A subsequent police operation in Savar led to the arrest of three individuals. The investigation officers and those responsible for apprehending the criminals provided these details.

According to police sources, the suspects were heavily addicted to drugs. To fund their addiction, they engaged in various criminal activities, including robbery and snatching, particularly in the Savar and Ashulia areas.

The robbery occurred on a Unique Road Royals bus late Monday night. The bus departed from Dhaka’s Gabtoli at 11 PM, heading toward the northern districts. Around 12:30 AM, armed robbers took control of the vehicle and held the passengers hostage. For three hours, they drove the bus to different locations while looting cash and valuables from the passengers. During the incident, female passengers were also subjected to harassment. Three days later, on Thursday night, a passenger named Omar Ali filed a case at Mirzapur Police Station.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Ahsanuzzaman of the District Detective Branch (South), who is leading the investigation, stated that upon receiving the case, he utilized technology to trace the whereabouts of the gang members to Savar and Ashulia. Through an informant, he learned that a group of drug addicts in the area regularly engaged in bus robberies, thefts, and muggings. These individuals were known for purchasing marijuana and heroin from a local drug dealer in Savar. On Friday afternoon, police arrested the drug dealer in front of a petrol station on the Chandra-Nabinagar road in Savar.

SI Ahsanuzzaman further stated that the 22- to 23-year-old drug dealer confessed to selling marijuana to individuals named Shahidul, Sabuj, and Sharifuzzaman, among others. He also disclosed that one of the stolen mobile phones was exchanged for drugs. Based on this information, the police launched a search operation for the suspects. By 5 PM on Friday, they apprehended Sabuj and Sharifuzzaman while they were sleeping in an automobile garage in the Genda area of Savar. Later, another suspect, Shahidul Islam, was also arrested. During interrogation, all three admitted to their involvement in the robbery.

The arrested individuals were identified as Shahidul Islam, also known as Mohidul or Muhit, son of Badar Uddin Sheikh from Lautara village in Daulatpur, Manikganj; Sabuj, son of Ismail Molla from Ramkrishnapur village in Jajira, Shariatpur; and Sharifuzzaman, son of Abul Hossain from Tongenda, Savar. Police records revealed that Shahidul had two prior robbery cases and three drug-related cases against him.

Law enforcement officials stated that both Sabuj and Sharifuzzaman had given confessional statements before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Tangail. During their statements, they also provided information regarding three other individuals involved in the robbery.

SI Ahsanuzzaman clarified that although no female passengers were sexually assaulted during the robbery, they were subjected to harassment. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects identified in the investigation.