Mohammadpur turns crime capital of Dhaka

Mohammadpur and Adabor, once considered relatively quiet residential neighbourhoods of the capital, have increasingly come under the grip of organised crime, with frequent murders, snatching, extortion, and drug-related violence raising serious concerns about law and order in the area.

Crime has become a daily reality for residents, with police stations in Mohammadpur and Adabor receiving an average of 10 to 12 snatching complaints every day.

However, many victims avoid filing cases due to fear and the complexities of legal procedures.

According to law enforcement data, at least 21 people have been killed in the two areas over the past 17 months in incidents linked to dominance disputes, drug trade, and organised criminal activities.

In Geneva Camp alone, clashes between rival drug gangs have left eight people dead in the past nine months.

Investigations suggest that at least 17 organised criminal groups are active in Mohammadpur and Adabor, allegedly operating under the influence of two notorious figures known locally as Picchi Helal and Imon.

Law enforcement sources say many of the group leaders maintain links with local politics and continue to wield influence despite multiple criminal cases filed against them.

Police capacity remains limited in comparison to the large population.

Mohammadpur Police Station reportedly has around 200 officers and only seven operational vehicles to serve an estimated population of 1.5 million people, while Adabor Police Station has 98 officers and five vehicles for around 600,000 residents.

Taking advantage of this shortage, criminal groups have expanded their activities in areas such as Bachila, Geneva Camp, and the embankment zones.
Allegations have also been raised against police negligence.

In a recent incident in Munsurabad Housing, Adabor, thieves stole goods and cash worth approximately Tk 1.7 million from a battery and tyre shop in the early hours of March 22.

CCTV footage showed a police patrol vehicle near the scene while the theft was taking place, and business owners later complained that police were reluctant to register the case, fuelling public frustration.

Since the interim government assumed responsibility, law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 8,000 individuals from Mohammadpur and Adabor over the past one and a half years.

During this period, 2,102 cases were filed at the two police stations, mostly involving extortion, snatching, theft, and robbery.

However, many suspects later secured bail and returned to criminal activities, according to police officials.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mohammadpur Region) Jewel Rana said to The New Nation that continuous operations are being conducted and action is taken whenever incidents occur, but the large number of floating populations and criminal networks makes the situation challenging.

Following the political changeover after the July 2024 mass uprising, law enforcement agencies reported a temporary collapse in policing, which allowed organised criminals to become more active in Mohammadpur, Adabor, and Bachila. Joint force operations later brought some control, but police say criminals are again attempting to regroup under political patronage.

Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir recently visited Mohammadpur late at night and announced renewed operations against snatchers, drug dealers, and juvenile gangs.

He told journalists that residents were living in fear due to the activities of organised criminal groups and that special block raids were being conducted to restore order.

He also noted that Mohammadpur has long been a crime-prone area with widespread illegal activities.

Snatching has spread along the embankment from Gabtoli Sluice Gate to Hazaribagh, covering several housing areas including Sunibir Housing, Turag Housing, Nabinagar Housing, Dhaka Udyan, Chandrimma Model Town, and Geneva Camp.

Police say criminals often operate in low-income settlements and move frequently to evade arrest, while drug trafficking, land grabbing, and extortion continue in many locations.

Several recent incidents highlight the deteriorating situation. On March 8, Anti-Corruption Commission Director General Motahar Hossain was stabbed and robbed near Residential Model College after Taraweeh prayers.

Earlier, extortion-related attacks were reported at a factory in Adabor and in Bachila, while multiple clashes and murders linked to drug gangs occurred in Geneva Camp and surrounding areas.

Crime analysts say the situation reflects a broader structural problem, driven by poverty, unemployment, political patronage, weak law enforcement capacity, and slow judicial processes.

They argue that arrests alone will not solve the problem and that dismantling criminal networks, cutting off financial sources, ensuring speedy trials, and strengthening social rehabilitation programmes are essential.

Inspector (Investigation) of Mohammadpur Police Station Rakibuzzaman Talukdar acknowledged the chall

enge, saying that many offenders are arrested repeatedly but return to crime after securing bail.

“Unless this cycle is broken, it will be difficult to control crime in the area,” he told the New Nation.

Police officials believe that stronger coordination, increased manpower, and long-term policy measures will be necessary to restore safety in Mohammadpur and Adabor and protect residents from organised criminal activity.