At least 50 to 60 vehicles were reportedly targeted in two daylight robbery incidents on the Himchhari Dhala stretch of the Eidgaon–Eidgar–Baishari road in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, 19 October. According to victims, a group of 10 to 12 masked and armed men blocked the road, stopped passing vehicles and held passengers at gunpoint. They allegedly took the victims to a nearby forest, assaulted them and seized cash, mobile phones and other valuables.
The victims said a total of Tk 270,000 was stolen in the two incidents. Mobile phones, a bank cheque book and important documents were also taken. Police have yet to confirm the exact number of vehicles affected. The incidents have renewed concerns about passenger safety on this important route.
Mohammad Robiul Islam, manager of a non-governmental organisation’s Eidgar branch, said he was travelling by motorcycle from Eidgaon Bazar to Eidgar with a colleague at around noon. They were carrying Tk 120,000 when a group of 10 to 12 masked men armed with weapons stopped their motorcycle at Himchhari Dhala.
The robbers took Robiul Islam and his colleague to a nearby forest and beat them. They allegedly seized the cash, two mobile phones and essential documents before releasing the pair a short time later.
Robiul Islam said the robbers had been stopping vehicles and looting passengers for nearly two hours. According to his estimate, more than 100 passengers travelling in 50 to 60 auto-rickshaws and motorcycles were affected. Most of the vehicles targeted were CNG-powered auto-rickshaws and motorcycles.
Abdul Hakim, an accountant at another non-governmental organisation’s Eidgar branch, was also among those targeted. He said he was travelling with two other people in an auto-rickshaw from Eidgaon Bazar to Eidgar Bazar when armed robbers intercepted their vehicle and held them at gunpoint.
The victims were taken to a nearby forest and assaulted. The robbers allegedly took Tk 150,000 and a bank cheque book from them. Based on the accounts provided by Robiul Islam and Abdul Hakim, the combined cash loss in the two incidents amounted to Tk 270,000.
Hakim said robbery was a recurring problem on the road and alleged that there had also been incidents of abduction for ransom. He expressed concern that effective measures to protect passengers were not apparent, leaving people anxious whenever they travelled along the route.
Mohammad Tarek, a resident of Eidgar, also described his experience. He said he was travelling from Eidgaon to Eidgar in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw carrying five passengers on Monday morning. When the vehicle reached Himchhari Dhala, the robbers stopped it and seized his mobile phone.
Fearing for his life, Tarek jumped from the moving auto-rickshaw and fled. His account highlights the sense of insecurity reported by people using the road.
Victims alleged that there was no police patrol at the scene while the robberies were taking place. Local residents believe the isolated sections of the road, which passes through hilly forest areas, provide opportunities for criminals to stop vehicles and rob passengers with little immediate resistance.
The road is an important transport link for residents of Eidgaon, Eidgar and Baishari, many of whom rely on it for their daily travel. Allegations of robbery, abduction and ransom demands have contributed to long-standing concerns about security along the route.
Residents have called for regular police patrols, particularly in vulnerable and isolated stretches, as well as stronger preventive measures to protect passengers. They say action is needed not only after robberies occur but also to reduce the opportunities for such crimes.
Meanwhile, police have launched an operation to identify and arrest those responsible. Eidgaon Police Station officer-in-charge ATM Sifatullah Mazdar said a group of local criminals had allegedly blocked the road, robbed passengers and then taken shelter in the adjacent forest.
He said several police teams were working to track down the suspects. Patrols had also been strengthened in the forested areas along the 17-kilometre Eidgaon–Eidgar–Baishari road.
However, no arrests had been made by Monday evening. Police operations were continuing to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.
The daylight robberies have intensified concerns over security on a route used by residents of several local areas. Victims and local people are calling for the swift arrest of those involved, the recovery of stolen belongings and effective measures to ensure safe travel.
