TDS Desk

Three individuals suspected to be robbers who surrendered during an attempted heist at the Jinjira branch of Rupali Bank in Keraniganj have been shown arrested in a case filed over the incident.

“A bank official from the branch filed the case with South Keraniganj Police Station against three suspects — Md Leon Molla Nirab, 22, Md Arafat, 16, and Md Sifat, 16 — yesterday night,” Jahangir Alam, additional superintendent of police (Keraniganj circle), said on December 20.

“The accused have been charged with robbery and will be presented in court today, where a seven-day remand will be requested for Leon Molla’s interrogation,” he added.

Yesterday, the suspected robbers barged into the bank at around 2pm and locked the bank’s collapsible gates, taking the staff and customers hostage. As news of the impending robbery spread, law enforcers arrived at the scene.

At first, they sent a note to the law enforcers with a few mobile numbers scribbled on it, eyewitnesses said. Then the negotiations began.

Once negotiations were established, the suspects first threw a “gun” out the window. They then packed the remaining “weapons” in a bag and threw those outside as well, according to the witnesses.

Later, one by one, the suspects stepped out of the building. The law enforcement officers present there took them into custody and escorted them into a vehicle.

Security personnel entered the bank at around 6pm. The army-led joint forces questioned the bank staffers and customers.

During primary interrogation, members of the law enforcement agencies learned that the “arms” the trio carried were actually toys, an official wishing anonymity told The Business Standard.

Keraniganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sohrab Al Hasan said four toy pistols and two knives were recovered from the robbers.

Later, Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Ahmad Muyeed at a media briefing said, “It appears the robbers attempted the heist as an adventurous act inspired by a movie. However, they claimed their motive was to rob the bank to save a kidney patient on his deathbed.”

He said the police were verifying the address of the patient provided by the robbers to confirm their claim’s authenticity.