Attempted robbery at Awami League leader’s house, 3 coordinators caught by locals

Local Correspondent

Three coordinators have been apprehended and handed over to the army after attempting to rob an Awami League leader’s house in Pushpakati, Debhata upazila of Satkhira, demanding extortion money while holding family members at gunpoint to loot cash and gold ornaments.

The incident occurred yesterday noon at the house of Golam Rabbani, current member of Kuliya Union Parishad and member of Debhata Upazila Awami League, in Pushpakati village of the upazila.

Besides politics and public representation, Golam Rabbani owns fisheries and a brickfield named Bismillah Bricks in the area.

The detained coordinators are Nahid Hasan, son of Abdul Alim from Bahera village of Debhata upazila; Abdur Rahim, son of Attab Mollah from Koikhali village of Shyamnagar upazila; and Abdur Rahman from Assasuni upazila.

UP member Golam Rabbani and his brother Abdur Rob said a group had been threatening them for days, demanding large sums of extortion money and threatening to shut down their brickfield and other businesses.

On Thursday noon, five youths suddenly entered their house claiming to be police. Three entered Golam Rabbani’s room while the other two entered Abdur Rob’s room, brandishing weapons to loot business cash and gold ornaments stored there.

At one point, angry locals chased and caught three coordinators, while the other two managed to escape.

Learning of the incident, Mujahid Bin Firoz, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement (Baicha) in Debhata upazila, sent police, BGB, and RAB members to the spot. However, the agitated locals refused to hand over the detainees to police or RAB, instead informing Satkhira Army Camp.

Later, when army personnel arrived at the scene, locals handed over the three detained coordinators to them.

Baicha movement convener Mujahid Bin Firoz claimed that during the previous government, member Rabbani had committed various misdeeds, so district coordinators went to arrest him.

When asked why coordinators took law enforcement responsibilities when agencies exist for such purposes, the Baicha leader gave no response.

Debhata Police Station OC Golam Kibria Hasan said, “I’ve heard about the detention. Since army personnel have detained them, we can provide details if they’re handed over to us.”