A gang of 10 to 12 armed robbers disguised as police intercepted a boat and proceeded to loot the passengers of their cash, three cell phones and other goods.

The incident occurred on the river Meghna at Rajrajeswar area under Chandpur Sadar upazila at around 8:30 pm yesterday.

Vegetable trader Dil Mohammad of Palbazar, a victim of the robbery said he and two other traders were returning to Kachikata in Shariatpur from a bazaar by an engine boat.  The gang of robbers on a speedboat began following the traders and hurled abuses at them. At one point, they asked the traders to stop who complied thinking the robbers were police officers.

Dil Mohammad said two to three robbers brandishing sharp weapons then looted them of over Tk 15,000, three cell phones, 5 litres of soybean oil and other goods.

He said they did not inform the matter to police.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of river police Md Rezaul Karim said no river police was on the spot during the incident. He said they would investigate it further after talking with the victims.