Burglaries in jewellers worry traders
Jewellery traders in the port city feel insecure after several incidents of burglaries were committed in their shops at different shopping malls in last two months.
Thefts were committed at six jewellers at three markets including posh Bipani Bitan (New Market) near Kotwali Police Station, Lucky Plaza at Agrabad and Swajan Super Market in Bahodderhat area on the nights of March 22, April 23 and April 30.
Over 650 bhories of gold ornaments were stolen from these shops during the burglaries, said the shop owners.
Traders blamed the poor security system in the markets for such thefts and held indifferent attitude of the market authorities in taking enough security measures to protect the shops.
They also resented the law enforcement agencies for not taking actions in tracing the culprits involved in the thefts.
The first theft was committed at Khaja Modern Jewellers on the first floor of Bipani Bitan at Chittagong New Market on the night of March 22.
Some 500 bhories of gold ornaments worth around Tk 1.5 crore and Tk 2 lakh in cash were stolen from the shop.
The shop owners said two of their staffs -- Ali Asgar and Md Mansur -- reportedly carried out theft immediately after the shop was closed at 8:30pm on that night.
Jamal Hossain, a betel leaf vendor of the market, told The Daily Star that half an hour after the jewellers were closed he saw two staffs were opening the shutters with the keys they had with them. He said they were opening the shutters when the other jewllers were taking preparation to shut their shops in the market.
SM Bachchu, one of the four proprietors of the shop, said failing to get proper help from Kotwali police in tracing the culprits they contacted Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).
Rab managed to arrest Asgar's maternal uncle Md Mohsin from Jessore on April 6 and according to his information recovered some stolen ornaments from Doulatkhan of Charpata union in Bhola.
Rab also arrested Mansur from Bhola on April 11 but couldn't get anything from him.
Asgar and his elder brother Mostafa are yet to be traced out even after over one month into the incident, said Bachchu on Monday.
He blamed the traders association of the market for maintaining poor security system.
A few night guards are deployed at the huge market having eight entry points, he alleged.
The second burglary was committed at three jewellers -- Akorshan Jewellers, Tazmahal Jewellers and Janani Jewellers -- at Lucky Plaza at Agrabad on the same night of April 23 while more than 100 bhories of gold ornaments were stolen.
Traders suspect that the security guards recruited from Jahangir Security, a private security guard provider firm, are involved in the theft since four guards deployed on that night remained absconding since the incident.
Miscreants cut the shutters and collapsible gates and broken the iron safes at all the three shops by gas cutters, the traders said.
Police found the security firm a fake one since they found no office at the address given at the contract form signed with the market authorities.
Police, however, arrested the superviser of the firm who provided the guards.
Security guards were also involved in the theft of Saudia Fashion Jewellers and New Rup Sagar Jewellers at Swajan Super Market at Bahodderhat on April 30.
Police arrested five people, including managing director of Four Star Security, but failed to nab the culprits yet.
Leaders of Bangladesh Jewellers' Association, Chittagong chapter at a press conference on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the burglaries.
Association President Md Nurul Absar Chowdhury while talking to The Daily Star blamed indifferent attitude of the owners' association of the market in ensuring proper security.
Nurul Absar said they met Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Md Maniruzzaman on April 24 to arrest the culprits and provide security to the market.
They also met Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury last week in this regard.
They said they would launch a movement if the real culprits are not arrested immediately.
Maniruzzaman said they have already arrested several persons in this connection and the arrestees are being interrogated to extract information from them.
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