An armed gang shot a bKash sales representative and looted a massive sum of money during a brazen daylight robbery on the Teknaf-Cox's Bazar highway on Sunday afternoon.
The attack occurred around 2:00 PM near Bridge No. 14 adjacent to the Teknaf land port and sparking severe panic among local traders and commuters.
According to witnesses, three bKash sales representatives were traveling to Hnila and Hoikang on a Palaki Paribahan passenger bus. An organized group of armed criminals barricaded the highway using felled trees, halted the bus and launched an assault.
During the confrontation, the attackers shot bKash representative Al Arman, snatched bags containing cash and fled the scene. Locals rescued the critically injured Arman and rushed him to a nearby hospital.
Abdur Karim a local bKash agent claimed the robbers looted approximately Tk 60 lakh from the three representatives. However, law enforcement officials have not yet independently verified the exact stolen amount.
Following the incident, a joint task force comprising the Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard cordoned off the area and initiated a manhunt.
Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed the rapid deployment of forces. "We are working tirelessly to identify and arrest the culprits and to recover the looted money" he stated.
The daring daylight attack on a busy highway has triggered serious security concerns among the local business community, who are demanding immediate arrests and stricter highway patrols.
