Kurigram, Dec 22, (V7N) - A robbery took place on the Brahmaputra River in Kurigram after 21 years, creating widespread panic among river passengers.
 
On Saturday, 21 December, around 8:30 AM, a boat carrying 18 passengers departed from Roumari. While traveling through the Brahmaputra River near the isolated area of "Two Hundred Bigha" between Chilmari and Roumari, the boat was ambushed by a group of masked robbers. During the attack, passengers were robbed of mobile phones, cash, and valuables, with a total loss amounting to nearly three lakh taka.
 
According to reports, a three-day Ijtema (religious gathering) was being held at Fazlul Karim (RA) Jamia Islamia Madrasa on the east bank of Dharla Bridge, Kurigram, which prompted followers from Roumari to travel. As the boat journeyed, about 20-22 armed robbers suddenly boarded and attacked the passengers, beating them and throwing their phones into the river. They took all the cash and valuables they could find before leaving the scene. Most passengers were injured and became ill due to the assault. One passenger, a businessman named Moyez Uddin from Puararchar village, reported that he lost 1.8 lakh taka in cash during the robbery.
 
Boatman Abu Taleb explained that they were on their way to the Ijtema when a group of around 22 armed robbers boarded and threatened them. They were forced to comply with the robbers' demands out of fear. He added that this was the first robbery on the river since the incidents of 2002-2003.
 
Businessman Moyez Uddin recounted that the robbers attacked them unexpectedly, forcing passengers to hand over their money and phones with threats of being thrown into the river if they resisted. He complied out of fear for his life, losing 1.8 lakh taka and his phone.
 
The officer in charge of Roumari Police Station, Lutfor Rahman, stated that he had received information about the robbery but could not take any action as the incident occurred outside his jurisdiction.
 
END/AIB/SMA/AJ/