Tangail, Feb 22 (V7N) – Three robbers have been arrested in connection with a robbery and sexual assault case on a moving bus traveling from Dhaka to Rajshahi. The Tangail District Detective Police (DB-North) arrested the suspects, and the news was confirmed by Superintendent of Police, Md. Mizanur Rahman, in a press conference on Saturday morning (February 22).

The arrested individuals are: Md. Shahidul Islam (29), also known as Mahidul or Muhit, from Lautara village in Daulatpur, Manikganj; Md. Sabuj (30) from Ramkrishnapur village in Jajira, Shariatpur; and Md. Sharifuzzaman (28), also known as Sharif, from Tangenda village in Savar, Dhaka.

According to Superintendent Md. Mizanur Rahman, the Tangail District Detective Police team, led by Officer-in-Charge Mir Mosharaf Hossain, along with officers from DB-South including Shamsuddoha, Ahsanuzzaman, Nafiul Islam, and Sudip Bachar, conducted a covert operation using informants and technological support. The three suspects were arrested on the night of February 21 from the Genda area in Savar, Dhaka. Police recovered local weapons (knives), mobile phones, and a total of 29,370 Taka from the suspects.

The case involves a robbery and sexual assault that occurred on a bus belonging to "Amri Travels" on the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway. A case was filed at Mirzapur Police Station (MT Case No. 17(02)25). The police were able to arrest the three robbers within 24 hours of the case being filed. Shahidul Islam is being sent for five days of further interrogation (remand), while the other two suspects are expected to give confessions in court.

Superintendent Rahman further informed the media that Shahidul Islam has been involved in five different criminal cases, including previous bus robberies in Ullapara Police Station, Sirajganj, and Savar Model Police Station in Dhaka.

Investigation officer Sub-Inspector Ahsanuzzaman confirmed that the arrested suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crime. Sabuj and Sharifuzzaman are expected to give confessional statements in court, while Shahidul Islam will be sent for further interrogation.

This incident took place on the night of February 17 when the "Amri Travels" bus left Gabtoli, Dhaka, at 11 PM. Around 12:30 AM, the robbers, armed with weapons, hijacked the bus, injuring several passengers and robbing them. The robbers also assaulted women during the three-hour ordeal before stopping the bus in a remote area of Mirzapur, Tangail, and escaping. Afterward, the bus driver initially refused to continue the journey but later resumed after pressure from the passengers.

The passengers later took the bus to the Baraiagram Police Station in Natore, where the driver, supervisor, and helper were detained on suspicion of being involved in the robbery. They were released on bail. The incident was reported three days later, and on February 20, a passenger, Omar Ali, filed a formal complaint at Mirzapur Police Station.

As a result of the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Baraiagram Police Station, Sirajul Islam, has been removed from duty and assigned to the district police headquarters.

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