Abortive daylight bank robbery ends with gunmen's surrender

A filmy-style daylight abortive bank robbery near the capital Thursday ended with the surrender of the three gunmen who held the bankers hostage for ransom.

Police and witnesses said a three-hour drama and suspense were over as the young bandits finally surrendered to security forces having failed in their attempt in a branch of the state-owned Rupali Bank in Dhaka's Keraniganj area.

"However, none was hurt in the incident as law-enforcers managed to bring out the hostages unharmed after the gang's surrender," says an official account of the finale.

Tensions ran high among the people there after three people, suspected to be robbers, got in the Jinjira branch of Rupali Bank after the lunch time and held the staffers along with other people who were present there hostage at gunpoint, according to law-enforcers and locals.

Soon after the entry, the armed persons, aged in-between 20 and 30 years, shut collapsible gate of the building housing the banking outlet, which triggered tensions among people in and around the area.

On information, members of the law-enforcement agencies like police, RAB and military personnel rushed in and cordoned off the place to avert any further trouble.

After three hours' efforts, the three suspects responded to the call and surrendered themselves with their firearms at about 5:15pm, according to the law-enforcers.

The arrested individuals were whisked away on a microbus escorted by members of the police and Rab, a Rab official told reporters on the spot.

"The officers and customers, who were held hostage inside the bank, are safe now," he said.

Three robbers had entered the bank, while the others remained outside. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, they might left the place, said the Rab official.

However, it was not ascertained whether the youths demanded money from the bank executives till the filing of the report at 7:25pm.

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