Home Minister: KNF involved in Bandarban bank robberies

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that the separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) is involved in the bank robbery incidents in Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban.

He made these remarks at his office in the Secretariat, Dhaka on Wednesday.

The home minister said: “KNF is a separatist group and its activities have increased recently. After the bank robbery, the police and BGB are conducting operations in Bandarban. Army personnel will also join them. There are reports of ongoing gunfire. A team led by the IGP is present there.”

No formal information has been received yet. All information is currently preliminary. The government will take necessary actions after a thorough investigation.”

The home minister said: “Regarding the incident in Ruma that we have heard so far, our IGP and senior officers are stationed there. Before entering the Sonali Bank in Ruma, they shut down the electrical substation that was there and proceeded towards the bank. Police were deployed there. The police and the bank manager were all in Taraweeh's prayers then. They entered and injured two police members and looted two SMGs and eight Chinese rifles. They also took shotguns from the Ansars at the upazila complex.

“The robbers broke one vault of Sonali Bank. They could not break one another. How much money was taken is still unknown.”

The minister said: “The Kuki-Chin group, which had previously established a presence in Bandarban, collaborated with a terrorist force, and arranged training. Our RAB and Army have removed that base. Recently, they have become active again in various ways.”