Rising teen gangs pose litmus test for law and order
The sudden detention of 624 suspected teen gang members across Cumilla has once again pushed the issue of juvenile crime into the national spotlight, raising questions about how organised youth groups are forming, why repeated crackdowns have struggled to stop them, and whether enforcement alone can solve the problem.
In a major overnight operation on Wednesday, police conducted coordinated raids across all 18 police stations in Cumilla, detaining hundreds of youths suspected of involvement in gang-related activities.
Police said the operation was launched after complaints of harassment, disorderly activities and alleged involvement of teenagers in criminal incidents.
624 detained in one night
The scale of the operation was significant. According to police, 624 people were detained during simultaneous drives across Cumilla district.
Police officials said the detainees were not immediately treated as convicted offenders.
Their backgrounds, previous involvement in criminal activities and other information were being verified before deciding on further action.
Police later said 451 teenagers were released to guardians after written undertakings.
173 people were sent for further legal action in cases involving alleged drug use, criminal cases, mobile court matters, banned organisation activities and arrest warrants.
There were around 50 active teen gangs in Dhaka, reports media in 2024.
RAB operations reportedly resulted in more than 600 suspected members of over 60 gangs being arrested by early 2024.
Daudkandi police station incident sparks controversy
The operation took a dramatic turn at Daudkandi Police Station, where 17 detained youths allegedly vandalised a room inside the station and escaped amid chaos.
Reports said chairs, tables and a door of the duty officer’s room were damaged. A video showing disorder inside the station circulated widely on social media.
However, police officials disputed parts of the reports, saying the situation occurred amid overcrowding and confusion at the station.
They said the incident was not as described in some reports and that the situation was brought under control.
Why teen gangs are becoming a concern
Law enforcement agencies and experts have repeatedly warned about organised groups of adolescents involved in activities ranging from neighbourhood intimidation to drug-related offences, extortion and violent conflicts.
In Dhaka, police previously identified numerous juvenile gangs operating across different areas of the capital, with allegations of involvement in robbery, extortion, drug-related activities and violent crime.
Experts say the problem is not limited to arrests. Factors such as peer influence, family supervision gaps, social media exposure, drug availability, local conflicts and the use of teenagers by older criminals are often discussed as contributing factors.
Dr. Sahal Uddin, criminal law expert told The New Nation, “Teen gangs are difficult to tackle because the problem is not created overnight. It involves family environment, peer pressure, social media influence, unemployment risks and the involvement of older criminals. Arresting members may disrupt a group temporarily, but preventing new recruitment requires long-term social intervention.”
The Cumilla operation highlights the difficulty faced by authorities: large-scale arrests can temporarily disrupt suspected groups, but preventing young people from returning to criminal networks requires long-term measures.
Law enforcement officials have said regular monitoring and operations will continue. At the same time, child rights specialists have stressed the importance of rehabilitation, education, family involvement and preventing innocent youths from being wrongly targeted.
