Five days after a robbery on a Dhaka-Rajshahi night coach in Natore, another daring robbery took place on Saturday night in Patnitala upazila of Naogaon, targeting a BRTC bus and a microbus. The robbers blocked the road by placing logs on the Nazipur-Sapahar regional road, halting the vehicles.
Despite more than 12 hours passing since the incident, no arrests have been made, according to local authorities.
Ratan Kumar Saha, the supervisor of the BRTC bus, shared that the vehicle left Rajshahi station around 8:45 PM, heading towards Niamatpur upazila. Around 11:45 PM, the bus slowed and stopped after spotting logs obstructing the road between Manashi and Karamjhai areas. The microbus traveling behind the bus also stopped upon noticing the blockade.
A group of robbers wearing masks then broke the bus windows, forcibly entered, and began looting the passengers. They stole money, mobile phones (7-8 in total), and ornaments, with an estimated total worth of around Tk 3 lakh. The robbers also attacked the microbus, snatching valuables from the driver.
Patnitala police station’s Officer-in-Charge, Enayetur Rahman, stated that action would be taken once complaints were filed.
This robbery comes just days after another similar incident on Monday night when robbers hijacked a Dhaka-Rajshahi bus of Unique Road Royals’ "Amri Travels." The robbers held the bus hostage for nearly three hours, during which passengers reported harassment, particularly of female passengers.
In response to the earlier robbery in Natore, Baraigram Police Station OC Sirajul Islam was removed from his position and transferred to the police lines due to allegations of negligence in handling the case and failing to address the harassment of two female passengers.
