Highway robbers on the loose

CHATTOGRAM, July 20: Highway robbers have become active again on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway recently, leading to a rise in the incidents of looting of lorries and trucks carrying imported items and RMG products.
Most robberies take place in Sitakunda and Mirerswarai areas on the highway. These areas saw at least 200 such incidents in the last two years, sources said.
On June 24 last, armed robbers raided a lorry of BSRM on Toll Road in Abbas Para area and looted imported iron scrap.
On July 16, a lorry of KSRM was looted in Madambibir Hat area on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Earlier on December 29, armed highway robbers looted imported iron scrap from a lorry of GPH Ispat Limited.
Sources said the gangs of robbers are mostly active on the stretch from Chittagong Port to Mirerswarai and in Feni area. They generally wait in ambush to attack and loot goods-laden lorries or trucks at gunpoint.
Deputy Managing Director of BSRM Tapan Sengupta told the FE that looting of trucks and lorries of steel factories has become rampant.
"There are several gangs ruling the highway from Chittagong port to Mirerswarai area," he said.
Additional Managing Director of GPH Ispat Limited Almas Shimul said, "The trucks and lorries carrying goods are at high risk of being looted not only on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, but also in several spots on the road from the Chittagong port to the highway. Presently, Toll Road and City Gate area are highly risky spots."
"We have already sent letters to the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) and the Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram in this regard. I hope the law enforcers and others concerned will take action soon," he said.
He also urged the law enforcers to involve RAB in their drive against robberies on the highway.
Meherul Karim, CEO of KSRM Group, said, "It is unfortunate that robbers are looting our trucks and lorries loaded with iron and imported scrap. We urged the law enforcers to take action in this regard. If the law enforcers can bust the gangs, the highway robbery will come to an end."
President of the Inter District MS Rod and Steel products Transporting Truck and Covered Van Owners Association Haji Monir Ahmed said, "Several gangs of robbers have been committing kidnappings and murders during the robberies on the highway for a long time. Many drivers were killed while many transport owners lost their vehicles."
CCCI President Mahabubul Alam told the FE that the importers are so worried about rampant looting of imported goods.
"The government has formed the Highway Police to check robberies and maintain the law and order on the highways. Still, the robberies are taking place frequently on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway and the law enforcers are doing nothing in this regard," he said.
He called upon the law enforcers to take immediate action to put an end to the highway robbery.
Contacted, CMP Commissioner Mahabubur Rahman said, "We are taking action against the gangs involved in the robbery. Halishahar thana police nabbed some highway robbers recently. We are carrying out raids regularly to arrest the robbers."
The police administration is also taking various steps to bring the situation under control. The CMP is preparing a database of the brokers of transport agents, drivers and lorries involved in the process of carrying goods from the Chittagong port to other places.
This database will help ensure smooth delivery of goods, said the sources in the CMP.
CMP officials said they formed a committee entitled 'Truck, covered van and lorry crime prevention committee', which is preparing the database with a view to curbing the crimes during the transportation of goods.

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