Chattogram:Police have apprehended six individuals suspected to be part of an inter-district gang engaged in stealing batteries from mobile phone towers in Chattogram and other regions of Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, two Noah microbuses allegedly used in the thefts, along with two stolen batteries and additional equipment, were recovered during police operations conducted in Chattogram and Cumilla. The arrests and seizures were part of efforts by the Chattogram District Police, as detailed in a press release issued today.
The individuals arrested have been identified as Md Sohag, Sahid Hossain alias Shiblu, Md Shamsuddin, Md Mozammel Haque, Md Yunus, and Md Saiful Islam Swapan. The thefts reportedly occurred on August 31, when four batteries were stolen from a Grameenphone tower at Heyako Bazar in Fatikchhari under the jurisdiction of Bhujpur Police Station. Additional batteries had been stolen from another tower at Guarder Bazar in the same area a few days prior.
Following these incidents, Grameenphone filed a case with Bhujpur Police Station on October 7. Subsequent police raids on October 27 led to the arrest of five suspects—Sohag, Shiblu, Shamsuddin, Mozammel, and Yunus—and the seizure of a Noah microbus. Based on information from these suspects, police conducted another raid in Laksam, Cumilla, on October 30, resulting in the arrest of Saiful Islam Swapan and the recovery of a second Noah microbus and two stolen batteries from his residence.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the arrested individuals are part of an organized inter-district gang responsible for stealing mobile tower batteries across the country. Several cases have been lodged against the gang members at various police stations. Police operations are ongoing to recover the remaining stolen batteries and to apprehend other suspects who are still at large.