On this road (Ghatail-Sagardighi), trees are cut down and placed on the road to rob buses. Photo: Dhaka Tribune
Armed robbers hijacked and looted three buses carrying students, teachers, and guardians from Soaitpur High School in Fulbaria, Mymensingh, during an educational tour. The incident occurred on Tuesday (February 25) in the Lakshmaner Badha area on the Ghatail-Sagardighi road. According to reports, early Tuesday morning, four buses carrying school members left for Green Valley Park in Natore. Around 4:30 AM, when they reached Lakshmaner Badha in Sagardighi Union, Ghatail Upazila, they were ambushed by a gang of robbers.
Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, the headmaster of the school, said, “As we were heading towards Natore, we saw logs blocking the road at the Ghatail border. We immediately closed the windows and gates of the first bus. However, a group of 10-12 robbers armed with local weapons attacked the last bus. They then proceeded to rob the three rear buses at knifepoint. Later, we called 999, but the robbers fled before the police arrived.” He further stated, “The robbers took nearly six lakh takas, one vori (about 11.66 grams) of gold, and ten smartphones. Our computer lab operator, Sakhawat Hossain Robin, and a guardian, Shahidullah Talukder, were physically assaulted during the incident.”
The headmaster added, “After the incident, there was panic among us. However, following requests from some students and guardians, we continued the educational tour.” Sakhawat Hossain Robin, the school’s computer lab operator, recounted, “I was in the second bus, which carried only female students. When the robbers took my mobile phone and attempted to approach the students, I tried to stop them. As a result, they attacked me with a machete.”
Local Union Parishad member Liaqat Hossain said, “Robberies frequently occur in Lakshmaner Badha. Just last Wednesday, another robbery happened at the same location. I will file a complaint with Ghatail police station regarding this.” Gopalpur Circle’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Fauzia Habib Khan, stated, “A robbery took place on three school buses during an educational tour. The robbers fled before the police arrived after a call was made to 999. We have already started working on the case. No official complaint has been filed yet, but the headmaster will lodge a complaint at Ghatail police station soon.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune
