Online Desk: Eight men were arrested and Tk 2.54 crore was recovered in connection with the much-talked about Tk 11.25 crore heist from a microbus on its way to refill ATMs. “Last night, detectives conducted raids in different areas of Dhaka, Sylhet and Sunamganj and arrested them,” Harun or Rashid, chief of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said at a press conference at DMP Media Centre today.

The robbery took place in Turag area around 7:15am on Thursday when officials of Money Plant Link Private Ltd, the firm hired for transporting the money to DBBL ATMs, were heading towards Savar EPZ in a microbus from Mirpur DOHS, with Tk 11.25 crore in four trunks.

Hours after the incident, police detained seven people for questioning, including two directors of Money Plant and the driver of the microbus. They were released later. Earlier, Tk 3.89 crore was recovered. Up to this point, a total of Tk 6.43 crore has been recovered. On Thursday evening, without opening the trunks, Harun or Rashid told reporters that the majority of the looted money was recovered and he assumed it could be about Tk 9 crore.

“We have recovered most of the money, which could be over Tk 9 crore, though we haven’t opened the trunks yet. Because, we will bring those who got the keys and then open the trunks. Since three of the four trunks are here, we hope around Tk 9 crore could be inside those,” he said at press briefing in front of the Le Méridien hotel in Khilkhet.

But when the trunks were opened at Turag Police Station, officials found Tk 3,89,50,000. Turag Police Station Inspector (investigation) Shariful Islam told.