The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested two individuals and recovered stolen copper wire in connection with the theft of a red telephone connection wire from the Prime Minister’s Office at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The arrested are Ranjan Chandra (26) and Rezakul Islam (32), police said on Thursday.
According to CTC sources, the sensitive incident created widespread discussion on social media and in various news outlets. Following the theft, BTRC authorities filed a case against unnamed accused at Shahbagh Police Station.
Given the importance and sensitivity of the matter, the City Intelligence Analysis Division of CTC launched a shadow investigation. Based on intelligence gathered, Ranjan Chandra, an outsourcing staff member at the Secretariat, was taken into custody and interrogated on Thursday afternoon.
During interrogation, Chandra admitted that he had stolen copper wire from Building No. 3 of the Secretariat on 22 May. He later sold a total of 8 kg and 200 grams of copper wire at a scrap shop in front of Dhaka University’s Ekushey Hall at Tk 600 per kg on 1 June, police said.
Based on his information, a CTC team conducted an operation and arrested Rezakul Islam from the scrap shop adjacent to Ekushey Hall. Subsequently, police raided a scrap warehouse in the Hoseni Dalan Road area of Chawkbazar and recovered the stolen copper wire from the Prime Minister’s Office red telephone connection.
Preliminary investigation suggests an organised gang is involved in stealing wires from various important connections at the Secretariat. Police said efforts continue to identify and bring the kingpins of the gang under the law.
