Mohammadpur's mugging menace: How crime red zones shaking Dhaka

UNB :

A sense of unease grips the residents of Mohammadpur as the area finds itself at the heart of a growing crime wave.
The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has recently identified 13 hotspots within the locality as ‘red zones’ for mugging, shedding light on an escalating crisis that has left residents fearful and law enforcement agencies scrambling for solutions.
From Dhaka Udyan to Basila Bridge and Taj Mahal Road to Japan Garden City, these areas have become dangerous terrains where criminals operate with alarming impunity.
According to a senior DB official, the proliferation of teenaged gangs has exacerbated the situation, pushing criminal activities, including mugging, drug trading, and violent attacks, to intolerable levels.
The lawlessness in Mohammadpur has been particularly noticeable since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year.
The once-thriving neighbourhood has transformed into one of Dhaka’s most crime-infested zones, with reports of gunfire, robbery, and armed assaults becoming a daily occurrence. Such an environment has led to a heightened sense of insecurity among residents, who fear that no time of the day is truly safe.
Teen Gangs
The rise of teenage gang culture has emerged as a major concern for both law enforcement agencies and the local community.
Authorities have identified around 100 members of such gangs operating in Mohammadpur alone.
The audacity of these criminals was starkly displayed on February 6, when four police officers-three of them sub-inspectors-were severely injured during an anti-drug operation in Rayer Bazar.
The attackers, armed with sharp weapons, left the officers battered, reinforcing fears about the growing brutality of teen gangs.
One of the most shocking incidents occurred in late January when a video surfaced on social media showing a teenage boy wielding a machete and assaulting another in broad daylight in the Dhaka Udyan area.
The video sent shockwaves through the city, highlighting the reckless nature of these crimes and the lack of fear among perpetrators.