Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery of Tk57 lakh from a passenger bus on the Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar road.
The robbery occurred near bridge No. 14 in the Dumdumia area of Hnila Union at about 12:45pm on August 2, when the bus was travelling from Teknaf towards Cox’s Bazar.
Police said three sales representatives carrying cash for distribution to mobile-financial-service customers were aboard the bus.
They were carrying a combined Tk82 lakh, police said.
Police said assailants blocked the road with a tree trunk and wood fitted with nails, forcing the bus to stop.
A group of seven or eight armed people then approached the vehicle, and four entered the bus, police said.
Police said Tk35 lakh was taken from Ekram Hossain and Tk22 lakh from Al Arman, while Tk25 lakh held by a third representative remained untouched.
Police said the two representatives were assaulted during the robbery, and Al Arman was stabbed.
The assailants left towards the hills after an incident that police said lasted about 15 to 20 minutes.
Police are investigating whether a woman wearing a burqa in a CNG auto-rickshaw that followed the bus had a role in the incident; her identity has not been established.
Investigators are also examining whether bus staff or any passenger supplied information, after the assailants went directly to the two representatives carrying the money that was taken.
Police arrested Akhtar Hossain and Nazrul Islam in the Leda area on the night of August 3 and sent them to court in the robbery case.
Police said they sought 10 days of remand to question the two men, while efforts continued to recover the money and identify others who may have been involved.
The stolen Tk57 lakh had not been recovered as of August 6.