Pabna, Dec 25, (V7N) - Jewelry shop owners in Pabna city staged a protest demanding better security after two accused robbers, caught red-handed while attempting to rob a gold shop, were granted bail within two days. The swift release has raised concerns about the safety of the local jewelry businesses.

On Tuesday (December 24), local jewelers marched in protest in the Sonapatti area of Pabna. The protest followed the granting of bail by the Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court earlier in the day.

According to the shop owners, on December 20, following a personal dispute, Mehdi Hasan and his associates attempted to rob a gold shop in the Rajab Ali Complex of Sonapatti. They damaged the shop of Rafiqul Islam Panna on the second floor. However, locals intervened, and one of the robbers, Abdul Khalek, was apprehended by the public. He was handed over to the police. The next day, when the main accused, Mehdi Hasan, and his associates returned to threaten the locals, they were also caught and handed over to the police.

Despite being arrested and charged, the accused were granted bail within two days, leading to threats against the jewelers from the suspects’ associates. The jewelers fear for their safety and demand that the bail be revoked immediately, warning of a possible stronger protest if their demands are not met.

Kutub Uddin, president of the Pabna District branch of the Bangladesh Jewelers Association (BAJUS), expressed concerns, stating, “We caught them red-handed during the robbery, but how did they get bail so quickly? We are now afraid. If robbers can get bail so soon, it sends a wrong message that will encourage further robberies."

Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdus Salam responded by saying that the incident was a result of a business dispute and not a major issue. He added that the situation was not related to the gold business itself and assured that there were no security lapses, as the jewelers had not expressed any concerns to the police.

END/SR/RH/