Saudi expatriate returning home after six years robbed by men posing as ‘law enforcers’

A Saudi expatriate was allegedly robbed shortly after returning to Bangladesh after six years, with the victim claiming that a group of men posing as law enforcement personnel took 4,700 Saudi riyals and around 88 grams of gold jewellery from him.

The incident took place around 5:15am today (3 October) in the Zia Udyan area under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka, while the victim was returning home to Keraniganj from the airport.

The victim, Omar Faruk, 30, said he arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11pm on Friday.

After staying at the airport overnight, he left for his home in Keraniganj with family members this morning.

He said that around 5:15am, while they were travelling by car through Zia Udyan towards Asad Gate, a microbus blocked their way at a crossing near the former prime minister’s residence.

According to Omar, four to five men got out of the microbus and identified themselves as police officers. 

They told him that there were illegal items in the car and that they would conduct a search.

During the search, they took 4,700 Saudi riyals (approximately 1.54 lakh taka) and around 88 grams of gold jewellery that he was carrying.

“The whole thing happened within about one and a half minutes,” Omar said.

As they left, one of the men allegedly threatened him, saying, “Go straight and don’t make any noise.”

Omar said he also saw a knife in the hand of one of the men, while another was carrying a light stick used by law enforcement personnel.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monirul Islam told The Business Standard that the victim had submitted a written complaint.

“The matter is being verified. If the allegations are found to be true, a case will be filed,” he said.