Members of the Kuki-Chin National Front executed planned bank raids in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban on Tuesday and Wednesday aiming to swiftly amass a large amount of money, the deputy inspector general of the Chittagong Range of Bangladesh Police has said.

DIG Nur-e-Alam Meena made the observation on Thursday after visiting the attacked Sonali Bank branch in Ruma and two hospitalized policemen injured during the robbery.

“The bank robberies in Ruma and Thanchi appear to be of similar nature and carried out by the same ring. The robberies were planned,” the police officer said.

“Banks have more money in their vaults as there are several festivals in April, and the robbers tried to take advantage of that,” he added.

The initial attack occurred on Tuesday night at the Sonali Bank branch in Ruma, where the assailants not only looted cash but also seized 14 security weapons and abducted the manager, Nizam Uddin, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Then at around noon on Wednesday, armed men stormed Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank branches in Thanchi and grabbed cash and mobile phones belonging to both customers and bank personnel before making their escape.

These incidents have sparked concerns regarding public safety, leading to heightened security measures across the district.

Banking operations in all upazilas excluding Bandarban Sadar have been suspended for security reasons.