In a daring display of larceny, members of militant group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) have robbed two branches of Sonali Bank and one branch of Bangladesh Krishi Bank in Bandarban's Ruma and Thanchi in the span of 16 hours.
Following the incidents, the Sonali Bank authorities on Wednesday temporarily suspended their operations in six upazilas of Bandarban.
In the first incident, the robbers attacked the Sonali Bank branch at Hathimatha Para area of Ruma Upazila on Tuesday night. They abducted the branch’s Manager Nizam Uddin after looting money and arms, police and locals say.
KNF members also robbed Sonali Bank and Bangladesh Krishi Bank in Shahjahanpur area of Thanchi town. They entered the bank and left with what they got in cash, local sources said.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said that the militant outfit KNF has been found involved in bank robberies at Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban.
"KNF was involved in bank robbery and firearms looting. They also hit police constables, bank guards and ansars," he told journalists at his ministry office.
The minister said "First, they switched off the electricity substation and then started looting valuables and firearms. Later, they abducted the local Sonali Bank manager when he was performing Taraweeh Namaz."
He said they also attacked the Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank at Thanchi on Wednesday and looted cash and valuables.
Sonali Bank Assistant General Manager Osman Gani told the reporters that Sonali Bank has been closed until further notice due to security reasons in six upazilas for the bank robbery in Bandarban's Thanchi and Ruma.
About the Ruma incident, eyewitnesses and police officials say around 8pm on Tuesday, a group of KNF men on motorcycles arrived in the Hathimatha Para area of the upazila. One group went to the bank, while another group split off and went to the mosque and the upazila officer's quarters.
They broke into the bank vault and looted the cash. In that time, the terrorists looted 14 weapons from the Ansar members guarding the bank.
Ruma Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Shahjahan said that the “hilltop-based armed terrorists” looted the bank's money and weapons and abducted the bank manager.
Sonali Bank Bandarban District Branch Manager Rajan Kanti Das said that the salaries and bonuses of the employees for Eid were taken to the bank. However, it is not yet known how much money was taken from the bank. It is believed that the terrorists looted Tk 1.5 to 2 crore.
In this regard, Additional DIG of Crime Scene Unit Shah Newaz Khaled said the terrorists could not loot money from the vault due to technical reasons. Tk 1,59,46,000 were recovered untouched from the vault.
Bandarban District Police Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Md Raihan Kazemi said the bank robbery incident, arms looting and abduction had taken place.
He added that an emergency meeting was underway with the district police and the army.
About the Thanchi incident, the eyewitness said that hill armed terrorists entered the Thanchi market and divided into two groups on Wednesday around 1pm. Then they attacked Sonali and Krishi Bank branches.
At that time, they fired blank shots in the market area. Everyone started running away in fear.
They also said the terrorists ran away from the scene after looting two banks. Since the incident, local residents are in a state of panic.
Mohammad Mamun, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Thanchi Upazila told the reporter that the terrorists looted Tk 15 lakh from Sonali Bank and Tk 2,45,000 from Krishi Bank after taking officials and employees as hostages.
Minister Asaduzzaman said that the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are carrying out operations immediately after the incident.
"We will do everything we need to bring the situation under control. Police and BGB have been carrying out their duties. If necessary, Bangladesh Army will also join the operation against Kuki Chin and other militant outfits," he added.
IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun visited the spot and said investigations are being carried out on the perpetrators of bank robbery in Ruma and Thanchi. Those involved with the robberies will not be spared.
