Three daring robberies in 16 hours at two branches of Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank in Bandarban ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr shook the confidence of traders, creating panic among the locals on the security set up of the hill district. Obviously, it is a matter of serious concern because daring robberies in a broad day light raised question about the security and safety of financial institutions, business establishments and people.
According to media reports, the daring robbery took place in less than 16 hours after a similar incident at the Sonali Bank branch in Ruma, also in Bandarban, about 100km from Thanchi. Members of the militant group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) allegedly looted banks. Inside the banks, some of the gang members started looking for the manager, while others started looting money from the cash counters. Within 20 minutes or so, they made off with around Tk 17 lakh from the two banks. During the incidents, armed goons targeted police constables, bank guards, and Ansar members, exploiting the moment, when police were engaged in Taraweeh prayers, to abduct a bank manager and break a bank vault, though the exact amount of money stolen remains uncertain.
The salaries and bonuses of the employees for Eid were taken to the bank. They looted the cash from the bank, along with 14 arms and the bank manager Md. Nizam Uddin. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that a group of militant outfit Kuki Chin, ‘hilltop-based armed terrorists’ was found involved in bank robberies at Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban. Kuki Chin was involved in bank robbery and firearms looting.
After the daring robberies the streets of Thanchi in Bandarban are eerily quiet and deserted since the armed bank robberies in broad daylight ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, with most of the shops in the Upazila closed. Locals said they were panicked by the attacks on two banks in Thanchi a day after the robbery and abduction in another bank in the hill tracts district’s Ruma Upazila frightened them.
Various elements including
militant outfits and terrorists
are now out to create chaos
in the hill districts
Traders have shuttered down all the shops, except for drug and grocery stores, since the bank robberies on Wednesday afternoon. Police and BGB are carrying out operations immediately after the incident. They must do everything whatever needed to bring the situation under control. If necessary, Bangladesh Army will also join the operation against Kuki Chin and other militant outfits.
KNF colluded with militants and arranged the training for the armed groups. They have been reasserting their strength in different ways recently. We have noticed various elements including militant outfits and terrorists are now out to create chaos in the hill districts. And the militant organisations are also trying to stage show down there.
So, it is feared that they can unleash a ‘reign of terror’ across the hilly region anytime whenever they will get any scope. Law enforcers must find and capture the suspected terrorists and militants from their hideouts in different hills and take control of their main training camp.
Earlier the army had conducted an operation in Bandarban as the terrorist activities hills. Law enforcers and even armed forces always face serious difficulties in Bandarban while conducting the operation. Apart from hill districts, the law enforcement agencies should launch special drive across the country to maintain law and order ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr. Members of RAB and Cop should be asked to conduct raid hotels, dormitories, hostels, community centres and other institutions in search of ‘terrorists, criminals, drug dealers, illegal arms holders, and suspects’ with arrest warrants. Apart from the special drive, security will also have to be beefed up in all under construction mega projects and key point installations (KPIs) in order to keep them safe and secure. Besides, the stringent security measures should be taken to thwart any evil plans by the vested elements.
