A group of robbers on Friday morning looted cash and jewellery, and also kidnapped an 8-month old child from a medical staff quarter in Azimpur in the capital, highlighting the glaring security vacuum prevailing across the country.

Police claimed Farzana Akter, a stenographer employed at the home ministry, lives in the government residence with her husband and child, who is now missing. Robbers took Tk1.5 lakh cash, four bhori gold and Farzana’s daughter in the morning raid.

A woman, who rented a room in the house using her false name, brought at least two men and a woman to the house at 9.30am Friday, said Jasim Uddin, deputy commissioner of Lalbagh division at Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

At one stage, they locked into an altercation with Farzana, punched her, and then took valuable items, along with Farzana's infant daughter.

Lalbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kasheinu told reporters that his team has initiated a drive to catch the miscreants and recover the child.

The incident is the latest in a series of disturbing crimes committed by miscreants since the fall of dictator Sheikh Hasina three months ago as the incumbent interim government struggles to fill the security hole created by the abrupt regime change.

There are reports that many of Hasina's allied police officers are unwilling to cooperate with the interim government.