Teacher killed in snatching

A primary school headteacher was killed after falling from a rickshaw during a snatching attempt in front of the South Plaza of the Parliament complex at around 6:30am on Saturday, highlighting growing concerns over the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Dhaka.

The incident came on a day when another alleged snatcher was killed in a stabbing incident in the capital, adding to a series of crimes being reported across Dhaka almost every day.

The latest incidents have intensified concerns over public safety as theft, robbery, snatching, extortion, terrorism, rape, abuse, murder, abduction, mugging and juvenile gang activities continue to pose risks to people’s lives and property.

The deceased teacher was identified as Mosammat Ranjina Parvin, headteacher of Bagbari Girls’ Government Primary School in Bogura.

According to police and local sources, Ranjina had travelled to Dhaka from Bogura early Saturday to consult a doctor.

She was travelling by rickshaw from Gabtoli to Islamia Eye Hospital in Farmgate when a motorcyclist allegedly approached from behind and pulled her bag near the South Plaza of the Parliament complex.

She fell to the ground during the incident and suffered a serious head injury. She was rescued and taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibne Mizan said police were working to identify the motorcycle and those responsible.

“We are working to identify the motorcycle and those involved. We hope to identify them very soon and bring them under the law,” he told the media.

In the other incident, an alleged snatcher, Jony, 35, was killed after being stabbed by another alleged snatcher in the Nama Shyampur Baraitala area under Kadamtali police station.

Kadamtali police station Sub-Inspector Md Jinnat said police received information at around 4am on Saturday that a young man was lying in a bloodied condition in the area.

Police rescued Jony in a critical condition and took him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to local sources, Jony was allegedly stabbed by another snatcher following a dispute between two alleged snatchers in the Nama Shyampur Baraitala area.

Police recovered the body and sent it to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Legal proceedings in connection with the incident are under way.

The incidents have added to concerns that street crime is becoming increasingly difficult to contain in Dhaka.

Many people have criticised the Home Ministry and senior police leadership, including Police Chief Ali Hossain Fakir, for what they describe as serious negligence and failure to improve the law-and-order situation.

More than six months have passed since the current government took charge, but critics say there has been no significant improvement in crime control.

Senior police officials have held several meetings to address the situation, but those efforts have yet to produce visible results.

The growing frequency of street crimes has put further pressure on the authorities to strengthen policing, curb organised criminal activity and restore public confidence in law enforcement.