Attempted heist at Sonali Bank's Rajshahi branch

Thieves have tried to break into a Sonali Bank branch in Rajshahi by digging a tunnel, police say.

However, a pedestrian intervened to foil their Thursday night's attempt.

Police have found instruments used in the heist attempt at the scene.

The attempted heist coincides with Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman visit to the northern district to attend a bank managers' council.

"The miscreants were digging a tunnel behind the bank's vault," said Rajparha police OC Mehedi Hasan.

"A pedestrian walking by heard noises and peeked to see what was going on behind the walls. The burglars fled as the pedestrian screamed," he added.

Sonali Bank's Rajshahi Court Branch is located by the street but surrounded by an estimated five-feet wall.

OC Hasan said the robbers had dug a nearly two-and-a-half feet tunnel.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police's deputy commissioner and bank officials rushed there on the news.

Police say they are trying to catch the culprits.

Robbers looted Tk 160 million from state-run Sonali Bank's Kishoreganj branch by digging a tunnel earlier this year. In March, Tk 3 million was looted in similar fashion from the bank's Adamdighi branch in Bogra.

In September, around Tk 20 million was stolen from BRAC Bank's Joypurhat branch in similar way.