The arrested culprits are Ariyan Ahmed Joy (23), Al Momen (26), and Md. Farhad Hossain (22). Among them, Al Momen is a member of the RAB. According to sources, they were wearing RAB vests during the incident. They were found with a toy pistol, steel handcuffs, a RAB vest, and a private car used in the robbery.
Among the victims are travel agency businessman Shahidul Islam and his nephew, Riaz. In this incident, Shahidul Islam filed a robbery case at Banani police station yesterday. He stated in the case that he and his nephew Riaz drove to Shahjalal International Airport at 10 p.m. on Friday to meet his friend Tariq. There, he met his friend, and at about 1:45 a.m., they left for home. Shahidul and Riaz arrived at the Mohakhali flyover in their private car around 2:15 a.m. The private vehicle used by members of the robbers immediately stopped Shahidul’s car. Three individuals got down from the private car and attempted to rob Shahidul’s vehicle with pistols. At that point, Shahidul and Riaz began to call for help. Eventually, people gathered from all over. People in the crowd arrested Ariyan Ahmed Joy. Others escaped in a private car. Shahidul then dialled 999 and requested police assistance. Joy was arrested by a team led by Banani Police Station SI Mir Md. Mahfuzur Rahman. Later, RAB member Momen and his associate Farhad Hossain were caught based on his information.
“They stopped our car and pointed a gun through the glass. After getting out of the car, they accused us of being gold smugglers. We requested that they investigate us. Then they began to beat us. They even threatened to kill us. Then, handcuffs were placed on our hands. At that point, we began shouting,” Shahidul told the media.
According to related sources, during the preliminary interrogation of the police following the arrest, RAB member Momen stated that they had information that those driving in the private car had gold bars. He committed such an act out of greed. He claimed that one of the arrested individuals is a family member and the other is a friend.
Inquiry revealed that when the car transporting Shahidul was stopped, a private television vehicle arrived at the scene. Journalists took photographs as well. As people gathered, a policeman named Shakib who was travelling in that route on a motorcycle offered assistance.
“Three individuals were beating two others. Two individuals begged to be rescued. Upon seeing the police, one of the three dropped the weapon and crossed the road, while the other fled,” Shakib told the reporters.
Joy, who was apprehended by the mob, claimed to the media that he works in a Tongi garment factory. He met Momen, a RAB member, while working in a drug-related operation. Later, Momen forced him perform additional tasks. On the day of the incident, he was taken to the Mohakhali flyover to participate in an operation.
