Some unidentified men robbed a bus on the Dhaka-Tangail highway early Wednesday, after taking control of the vehicle for over six hours.
According to victims, a bus of Al Imran Paribahan began its journey to Rangpur from Dhaka's Abdullahpur around 8pm. Robbers, who had boarded the bus from different points posing as passengers, took control of the bus from 11:30pm to 5am on Wednesday and looted the passengers.
The robbers also allegedly molested the women passengers.
Atiqur Rahman, helper of the bus, said, "Some people got on the bus from Savar's Narsinghpur, Baipail and Ashulia. The bus crossed Elenga area in Tangail's Kalihati upazila with 45 passengers, including 10 women, around 11:30pm.
"After going a few kilometres on the approach road on the eastern side of Jamuna Bridge, some 10 unidentified men who had boarded as passengers took control of the bus brandishing weapons. They blindfolded everyone and turned the bus towards Dhaka upon reaching the Golchattar area on the eastern side of the bridge," he added.
Atiqul further said, "While the bus was moving towards Dhaka, the robbers snatched cash money, gold ornaments, smartphones and other valuables from the passengers. They went to Chandra and Ashulia in Savar and made rounds of the area multiple times throughout the night."
Abed Ali, driver of the bus, said, "The robbers made rounds of Savar and Tangail four to five times throughout the night. They left the bus parked at Shibpur area beside Bypass Road in Tangail around 5:30am."
Jewel Mia, a passenger of the bus, said, "The incident of molesting happened when the robbers were trying to snatch money from the women passengers. Although my eyes and mouth were blindfolded, I heard the cries and pleas of the women passengers."
Tanbir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Tangail Sadar Police Station, told The Business Standard, "Process to lodge a case is ongoing. Police have started to identify the robbers."
