Syed Shemul Parvez :
With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, criminal activities by organised gangs – including pickpockets, muggers, counterfeit currency dealers, and extortionists – have seen a sharp rise in the capital and its surrounding areas, prompting heightened concern among residents and law enforcement agencies.
Police sources have reported a surge in general diary (GD) filings related to theft and snatching, although many gang members remain at large. Alongside habitual pickpockets, a number of so-called seasonal criminals – including robbers, extortionists, kidnapping syndicates, and fraudulent groups such as the Agghan and Malom parties-have reportedly become more active in recent weeks.
The influx of money during Eid-ul-Azha, particularly for the purchase and sale of sacrificial animals, has made livestock markets and banking zones primary targets for criminal gangs. Shoppers in crowded malls and markets are also frequently falling victim to theft and snatching.
Law enforcement agencies have responded by increasing surveillance and patrols in crime-prone areas, particularly around shopping centres, banks, and cattle markets. Intelligence monitoring has been intensified to identify and apprehend known criminals, particularly those previously released on bail.
Multiple raids are being conducted at over 400 locations across Dhaka in an effort to dismantle active robbery gangs. Intelligence agencies have also placed known members of the Agghan and Malom groups under watch.
On 30 May, army personnel arrested nine individuals in Sector 10 of Uttara. The group was allegedly operating an illegal cattle market and coercing traders to sell animals at designated locations under threats of extortion.
In a separate incident on Saturday in Hemayetpur, Savar, a young man named Monir was abducted while visiting a factory. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Tk 50,000. Following a call to the national emergency hotline 999, police from Bhatara Station successfully rescued the victim.
Criminal incidents have been reported across the city in recent days. On Sunday, a youth named Md Arif was robbed by a gang in the Hashem Road area of Matuail. The same day, a police operation in Kotwali led to the arrest of 15 suspects, including drug dealers and individuals with outstanding warrants.
Other notable cases include the 19 May robbery of Fahad Ahmed (28), who was attacked while travelling from Mohakhali to Gulistan by public bus. On 27 May, armed robbers in Mirpur shot a businessman and stole Tk 2.2 million from him. The previous day, three assailants in Pallabi attacked a man with a machete and stole his iPhone. In another incident, traffic police apprehended a robber in Jatrabari after he snatched a gold chain from a woman’s neck.
Authorities have also flagged a sharp increase in the circulation of counterfeit currency ahead of Eid. Fake note syndicates are reportedly targeting both cattle and clothing markets. These groups operate from private residences using printers and computers to produce fake Tk 500 and Tk 1000 notes, which are then distributed via encrypted communication apps.
On 16 May, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) raided a flat in Wari, arresting two suspects – Md. Saidur Rahman and Md Mehedi Hasan – and seizing counterfeit domestic and foreign currency worth over Tk 3.8 million, along with equipment used to produce the notes. During initial questioning, the suspects admitted to preparing large quantities of fake money ahead of Eid.
Earlier on 13 May, based on a tip-off, the DB’s Social Media Crime Investigation Unit arrested two individuals – Saiful and Rezaul – near the Mohakhali Police Box for involvement in the distribution of counterfeit currency.
DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations), SN Md Nazrul Islam, confirmed that special operations have been launched in anticipation of increased criminal activity surrounding Eid celebrations. “Seasonal criminals typically become more active during Eid shopping. We have intensified surveillance in banks, markets, and livestock centres, and increased the deployment of forces in high-risk areas,” he said.
Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury, Director of RAB’s Legal and Media Wing, echoed these concerns and noted that additional security measures have been implemented nationwide. “Patrolling has been reinforced, and intelligence surveillance is ongoing to curb criminal activity,” he added.
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