Police have recovered eight pieces of luggage stolen from Rajshahi Division cricketers participating in the National Cricket League (NCL) and detained four suspects in connection with the theft.
The stolen kit bags were recovered early on Thursday morning during a raid at a residence in Tarapur village, Puthia upazila, following a joint operation by Rajshahi District Police and the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) security department.
The bags belonged to spinning all-rounder SM Meherab Hasan, pacers Mohor Sheikh Antor and Ali Mohammad Walid, and team assistant Abdul Kader.
They had been stolen from a BCB covered van transporting the squad’s equipment from Dhaka to Rajshahi.
Police identified the four detainees as Mozammel Haque, 32, Sohan Rahman, 23, Rubel Ahmed, 38, and Shahadat Hossain, 52, from whose house the stolen property was retrieved.
Rajshahi Police spokesperson and Additional Superintendent of Police Sabina Yasmin confirmed that most of the stolen belongings had been retrieved and would be returned to the players.
A formal case has been lodged at Puthia Police Station, and police have produced the suspects before a court seeking police remand.
Rajshahi Divisional Sports Association Member Secretary Mozadded Zamani told reporters that upon visiting the detective police office, he spotted one of the detainees, Mozammel Haque, wearing clothing belonging to the cricketers.
According to police, the Rajshahi Division squad had flown back to Rajshahi on Wednesday morning following their second-round NCL fixture against Khulna Division at Mirpur.
Their covered van, loaded with 54 pieces of luggage, had set off from Dhaka the previous night.
As the van travelled along the Natore–Rajshahi highway near the Tarapur intersection, suspects on motorcycles reportedly tailed the vehicle, broke the lock of the moving van, and snatched the bags.
A motorist driving behind the van witnessed the theft and alerted the van driver, Sajib.
Upon arriving at the Hotel Grand Riverview in Rajshahi city, team officials unloaded the cargo and discovered that only 46 of the 54 bags were present.
A general diary was lodged with Rajpara Police Station on Wednesday, triggering the police operation that led to the recovery of all eight missing bags.
