After more than six years of hard work in Saudi Arabia, Omar Faruk returned home early Saturday carrying his savings and gold jewellery, hoping to reunite with his family.

But within hours of arriving in Bangladesh, he was allegedly robbed of 4,700 Saudi Riyals and around 88 grams of gold jewellery by a group posing as law enforcement officials, according to a complaint filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The incident took place around 5:06am near the traffic signal at the July Museum and Zia Udyan, adjacent to Ganabhaban, while Omar and his family members were travelling to their home in Subarnasur village of Keraniganj.

Omar, 30, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Saudi Airlines flight around 11pm on Friday. His father, Dudu Miah, had gone to the airport to receive him, accompanied by his cousins Abdur Rahman and Dulal Miah.

After completing airport formalities around 12:30am, the family waited until early morning before leaving for home in a private car around 4:45am, fearing they could be targeted by muggers during the night.

According to Omar's complaint, the family was making a left U-turn after passing the signal near the July Museum and Zia Udyan when a HiAce car came up behind them and blocked their way.

Four or five people got out of the vehicle and identified themselves as members of law enforcement agencies, he alleged. They claimed they had information that illicit goods were being carried in the car and insisted on searching it.

At one point, they took the car keys, Omar said. During the search, they allegedly took the Saudi Riyals and gold jewellery he was carrying.

Omar said the incident lasted around a minute and a half. He alleged that one of the men threatened them to leave quietly and that he saw a knife in the hand of one person and a light stick commonly used by law enforcement personnel in another's hand.

The group then left the area and Omar and his family continued their journey home.

After reaching home, the family discussed the incident. Omar's mother reportedly fell ill after hearing that her son had been robbed shortly after returning from Saudi Arabia.

Omar went to Saudi Arabia in March 2020 and worked at a factory there. He had saved the money and gold over the years before returning home.

On Saturday afternoon, he visited the scene and later submitted a written complaint to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Police accepted the complaint but had not immediately registered a case.

Monir, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, said the complaint had been received and police would inspect the scene. A case would be registered after the allegations were verified by examining CCTV footage, he said.

Omar said the money and jewellery represented years of sacrifice and his hopes for his family's future.

“I haven't even been able to hold my child yet,” he said. “Even after returning to the country, I didn't go home at night because I was afraid of being robbed. Yet I ended up becoming a victim myself.”

His father, Dudu Miah, urged the authorities to arrest those involved and recover the money and gold jewellery.

Omar's cousin Suleman Akash said Omar had spent years away from his family working abroad and sending money home.

“He endured a lot of hardship. He didn't even go home at night because he feared being robbed. And yet, Omar lost everything within minutes,” he said.

Omar is now waiting for the authorities to investigate the incident and take action against those responsible.