IO changed, prime accused at large

The prime accused, Ward Commissioner Ashique Ahmed, also remained at large.

In a mysterious move, the Investigating Officer of the case has been changed. Sub-Inspector Bashir Khan of Kowali thana has been replaced by ASP (North) Siddiqui Tanjilur Rahman as the IO.

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Two of the arrested persons --SM Rubel and Munim, a cleaner of the bank, in their confessional statements under Section 164 before a magistrate on Thursday gave a detailed description on how the money was looted.

Rubel said City Corporation Ward Commissioner Ashique Ahmed and Union Parishad Chairman Usman Ali were directly involved in it.

Munim admitted that he had passed on information to the miscreants over mobile phone just after the vehicle had left the bank.

Police said interrogation of the rest of the remanded accused in on.

Remand of the bank's cashier Syed Faizur Rahman ended on Thursday.

The money, packed in a gunny bag, was looted when the microbus was on way to Sylhet Corporate branch of Pubali Bank.

Soon after, police recovered Tk 5 lakh from the house of a Union Parishad chairman. Three motorbikes and the Stengun looted from the bank's guard were also recovered from the same house.

Later, the private car used in the looting which belonging to a Ward Commissioner was also found abandoned at a filling station, about 15 Kilometres from the spot.

Havilder Abdul Quaiyum has been awarded Tk 10,000 for his laudable role in catching the miscreants just after the incident.

Police said the UP chairman and the Ward Commissioner were directly involved in the looting.

The case was filed next day, accusing 15 people including Ward Commissioner Ashique Ahmed as the number one accused. The other accused include UP chairman Usman Ali and his two stepbrothers.