An 18-year old German citizen Kirill Lander-Weber Deneygar arrived in Bangladesh driven by a passion to document its rich heritage sites. Carrying the digital tools of his trade, he looked forward to exploring the country’s historic treasures.
However, a single moment of misplaced trust at a bustling railway station turned his expedition into a distressing ordeal.
More than 24 hours after a fraudster vanished with his bag containing an Apple MacBook and a camera, the stolen belongings remain unrecovered.
Having travelled between police stations and met with senior officers across both Natore Police and Rajshahi Police without an immediate breakthrough, the weary tourist was ultimately forced to board a train back to Dhaka empty-handed.
A friendly stranger in a yellow waistcoat
The misadventure unfolded on Wednesday afternoon aboard Banglabandha Express travelling from Santahar to Natore.
At around 3:30pm, Kirill was approached by a youth aged approximately 25, wearing a yellow waistcoat.
Introducing himself as a railway official, the young man struck up a conversation and disembarked alongside Kirill at Natore station. Claiming he was heading to the same destination, he accompanied the German national into the station waiting room.
Believing he was in safe hands with a railway staff member, Kirill left his bag in the man’s care while he stepped out to an ATM booth at around 3:50pm to withdraw money for train tickets.
That brief absence proved costly. Upon returning minutes later, Kirill discovered that both the stranger and his bag had vanished.
CCTV footage reveals platform escape
Shaken by the deception, Kirill sought assistance from local journalists, who guided him to Natore Sadar Police Station.
By Wednesday night, with police support, CCTV footage from Natore Railway Station revealed the sequence of events: as Kirill walked towards the ATM, the youth in the yellow waistcoat seized the bag, crossed the platform, and boarded Dhaka-bound Ekota Express originating from Panchagarh.
In the aftermath, police machinery across multiple divisions initiated a concerted search. Natore Sadar Police Station attempted to locate the missing MacBook through tracking technology before transferring the complaint to Railway Police.
Md Monsur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Natore Sadar Police Station, confirmed that the formal complaint had been accepted and duly forwarded to Railway Police. A joint effort is currently underway to track down the culprit.
Md Mehedi Hasan, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Pakshi Railway District Police, said the Railway Police, Tourist Police, and District Police are conducting a combined operation to recover the German tourist’s stolen bag and items.
He added that a clear image of the suspect extracted from the footage has been circulated to police stations nationwide, expressing confidence that an arrest will follow soon.
Addressing the suspect’s attire, Ahmed Hossain Masum, general manager of Western Railway, clarified that yellow waistcoats are typically worn by railway sweepers.
However, following internal verification, his colleagues confirmed that the suspect was not a genuine member of the railway staff.
Crucial research data lost
Before departing for Dhaka aboard Padma Express, Kirill travelled to Rajshahi to consult with senior officers.
Abu Jihad Fakrul Alam Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tourist Police (Rajshahi Zone), mentioned that officers met with Kirill and assured him that every effort is being made to trace his stolen property.
Speaking to TIMES, Kirill reflected solemnly on the setback. While relieved that his passport and mobile phone remained safe in his possession, he expressed deep distress over the loss of his laptop and camera, which contained crucial data and information gathered for his heritage work.
Admitting he was deceived after placing his trust in the wrong person, the German researcher extended special thanks to the journalists of Natore for their support, remaining hopeful that the active police investigation will eventually restore his belongings.
