A jewellery trader and his cousin have been shot and severely injured during a violent armed robbery in Hazratpur, Keraniganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka. An armed gang intercepted their vehicle on Monday evening, firing live rounds and detonating explosives before fleeing with approximately 20 to 25 bhori of gold ornaments alongside cash reserves. The victims, identified as 25-year-old Antar Sarkar and his 20-year-old cousin Rajib Sarkar, were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for urgent medical intervention.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 pm on Monday, 21 September, whilst the family was en route to their village home in Atipara, located in the Singair Upazila of Manikganj. Antar Sarkar operates a jewellery shop in Keraniganj’s Hazratpur market. Following his standard daily routine, Antar closed the establishment in the evening and boarded an auto-rickshaw accompanied by his father, Mitai Sarkar, and Rajib Sarkar. They carried the day’s cash earnings and a container holding valuable gold jewellery.
As the auto-rickshaw navigated a stretch through Hazratpur, a group of armed assailants executed a coordinated ambush. Witnesses and police sources confirmed that nine individuals riding three motorcycles, along with several accomplices in an auto-rickshaw, blocked the vehicle’s path. The gang immediately opened fire at close range when the victims attempted to protect their belongings. Both Antar and Rajib sustained gunshot wounds to their legs and collapsed at the scene.
Having incapacitated the victims, the robbers seized the metal tiffin box containing the gold ornaments and cash. To facilitate their escape and deter onlookers, the criminals detonated five to six crude bombs, causing widespread panic across the surrounding area before fleeing the site.
Local residents rushed to the scene following the explosions, rescuing the injured men and arranging immediate transport to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Medical personnel at the emergency department confirmed that both victims are undergoing treatment for gunshot injuries. Law enforcement officers from Keraniganj Police Station have inspected the crime scene, collected forensic evidence, and launched a comprehensive manhunt to identify the perpetrators and recover the stolen valuables.
