Army officer stabbed to death by robbers in Cox's Bazar

An officer of the Bangladesh Army was shot and stabbed to death during a raid to recover illegal firearms in Cox's Bazar's Chakaria upazila on early Tuesday (24 September). 

The deceased Lieutenant Tanjim Sarwar, 23, was leading the raid during the incident that occurred around 3:30am in Maizpara village, Dulahazara union, according to Chakaria police and army.

During the operation, a group of 7-8 armed robbers tried to flee after spotting the army patrol team. When Tanjim chased some of the robbers, they attacked the Lieutenant, stabbing him in the neck, resulting in severe injuries and heavy bleeding, reads a statement issued by the Bangladesh Army on Tuesday.

He was immediately taken to a local hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

Tanjim Sarwar had completed his higher secondary education at Pabna Cadet College. He was commissioned into the Army Service Corps (ASC) on 8 June 2022, as part of the 82nd Long Course from the Bangladesh Military Academy.

Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Manjur Quader Bhuiyan said one of the armed robbers fired at Lt Tanjim, hitting him on the forehead and injuring him further with a knife.

"Six of the robbers were caught. A pickup truck, a motorcycle, and a firearm were recovered from the robbers," he said. 

The identities of three of the six arrested individuals have been confirmed as Ziabul Haque, Mohammad Hossain, and Belal, who are active members of a robbery gang in Maizpara village, the OC said, adding that the body of the deceased officer was taken to Cox's Bazar General Hospital morgue for autopsy around 10:30am, reports our correspondent.

Cox's Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Jasim Uddin Chowdhury told TBS that the deceased army officer's body was transported to his village home in Tangail by a military helicopter after the post-mortem.

"Six robbers were detained and are being questioned as the joint forces' operation continues. Efforts are underway to apprehend all those involved," he added.

According to local residents, over 300 members of a robbery group are active in six villages of Chakaria upazila. Maizpara in Dulhazara Union is particularly prone to robberies, along with Dumkhali, Reserve Para, and Saudagarpara in Chiringa Union, and East Para and West Para in Shaharbil Union, where robberies occur frequently.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Tanjim Sarwar was laid to rest in Tangail's Korer Betka village following his namaj-e-janaza at the Boali Madrasa field on Tuesday after Asar prayers, reports UNB.

Earlier at 3:30pm, a military helicopter carrying the officer's body landed at the district helipad, where he was received by senior military officials, along with some family members