TANGAIL, JUNE 02 (V7N) – Another robbery has occurred on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, this time targeting a microbus carrying an expatriate woman in the Pushtakamuri Charpara bypass area of Mirzapur upazila. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, May 31, also saw Tuhin, a wrecker driver from Gorai Highway Police Station, shot by the robbers. He is currently in serious condition at Mirzapur Kumudini Hospital.

The gang reportedly looted cash, mobile phones, and other belongings from the expatriate and her relatives. Police have since recovered a pickup truck belonging to the robbers, the expatriate's microbus, and various weapons used in the robbery.

According to microbus passenger Sumaiya Akhter, her sister-in-law Beauty Akhter, a Jordanian expatriate, had arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday night. They then rented a microbus from Tongi, with Beauty, Sampa, their father-in-law Abdul Hamid, and their children onboard. As their microbus reached Pushtakamuri Charpara on the highway around 2:30 AM, a pickup truck from behind suddenly blocked their path. A group of 7-8 robbers, armed with pistols, police walkie-talkies, handcuffs, guns, chapatis, knives, sticks, and axes, quickly took everyone hostage at gunpoint. They proceeded to loot their belongings, including 5-6 mobile phones and Tk 70,000 in cash.

When the victims attempted to scream, the robbers threatened to open fire. A police and highway police patrol team, observing the incident, gave chase, prompting the robbers to open fire. Highway police wrecker driver Tuhin Mia was shot during this exchange, and the robbers subsequently fled the scene.

Upon receiving news of the robbery, police rushed to the spot, rescued the victims, and brought them to the police station. Tuhin, who sustained a bullet injury to his hand, is now undergoing treatment at Kumudini Medical Hospital. He stated there were at least 10-12 members in the robber group and that the bullet was removed through surgery, saving his life.

Expatriate Beauty's father-in-law, Abdul Hamid, and Sumaiya expressed suspicion towards the microbus driver, Mustaqin, and helper, Jewel, who they had rented the vehicle from.

Mirzapur Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Rasedul Islam confirmed that police responded to the scene and recovered the abandoned pickup truck and the expatriate's microbus. He reiterated that the shot individual is receiving medical attention and that police are continuing efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the gang.

This incident follows another robbery on the highway in Mirzapur on Thursday, May 29, night. In that case, robbers hijacked a truck loaded with soybean oil, tied up the driver and helper, and made off with the truck and 60 drums of oil. This occurred on an overbridge on the highway around 3 AM. Police later rescued the bound truck driver and helper.

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