Syed Shemul Parvez :
Residents of the capital are increasingly worried about security due to a significant rise in various crimes, including theft, robbery, and snatching.
Officials from the law enforcement agencies report that, in addition to maintaining law and order, police from 50 police stations in the capital, along with members of various intelligence agencies, are actively collecting intelligence information.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) officers express deep concern over the surge in robberies occurring at night, especially in the early hours of the morning. Investigations have revealed that many robbery victims are reluctant to seek police assistance or file general diaries (GDs) or legal complaints. Victims cite their desire to avoid the hassles associated with police stations and courts as the reason for their hesitance.
As a result, police have stated that it is challenging to apprehend criminals without official reports, making it difficult to identify perpetrators.
The DMP has already decided to take action against policemen in charge of areas experiencing high rates of thefts and robberies. According to a DMP report, the police station areas with the highest incidence of snatching and robbery are Mohammadpur, Shahbagh, Bhatara, and Sherbanglanagar, while Dakshin Khan, Uttara Khan, and Uttara Purba have reported the fewest incidents.
In 2022, there were 165 robbery incidents and 1,603 thefts reported in the DMP jurisdiction, compared to 1,343 incidents in 2021. In 2020, there were 176 cases of robbery and 1,217 cases of theft. As of April 2023, there have been 44 robbery cases and 486 theft cases.
An analysis of crime data for 2022 and 2023 indicates that the Tejgaon division of the DMP has the highest number of crimes, while the Ramna division has the lowest. In 2022, Tejgaon reported 5,333 cases, whereas Ramna recorded only 2,300 cases. In the first four months of 2023, Tejgaon continued to lead with 1,631 cases, while Ramna had 666 cases.
On September 30 at 8:30 PM in the South Qutubkhali area of Jatrabari, a young man named Russell Shikder (25) was fatally attacked. His brother, Rubel Shikder, stated that Russell had intervened to stop a robbery in the area two days prior, which led to his murder by the gang as an act of revenge.
On the night of October 18, a student named Shiblul Haque from Jahangirnagar University was robbed near the Mogbazar railway crossing while returning home from Kamalapur station. Seven men on three motorcycles attacked him, stealing his iPhone 15 Plus, an SSD containing footage for his scholarship application, sound equipment, his wallet, and other belongings.
On October 19, a DMP constable named Zubair Hossain Alock was also robbed in the Shahjahanpur area. The thieves stole a pair of gold earrings, a gold chain, and 11,000 Taka in cash from his home. However, police arrested three suspects involved in the theft the following day in a raid in the Shanti Bagh area of Shahjahanpur.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) Md. Israel Howlader stated, “Since August 5, there has been a sense of lawlessness among some individuals. Each police station had five to eight patrol cars, but many of these vehicles were reassigned after that date.
Patrol operations were initiated at eight designated sites, and after two months, normal patrol activities have resumed at all police stations. Following incidents, we have worked diligently on investigations, identifying and arresting suspects, which reflects police effectiveness. The police are also engaged in preventive measures to deter crime in society.”
In this context, RAB’s Legal and Media Wing Director Lt. Colonel Munim Chowdhury emphasized that the elite force is actively working to control all types of crime. RAB’s patrol teams, intelligence units, and checkpoints are continuously operating to prevent theft, snatching, and robbery.
Several suspects have been apprehended in connection with these crimes, and RAB is closely monitoring individuals who have been released on bail.
Dr. Touhidul Haque, an assistant professor at Dhaka University’s Social Welfare and Research Institute and a crime expert, remarked, “There has been a notable increase in incidents of theft, snatching, and robbery in the capital. The sudden rise can be attributed to the current challenges faced by law enforcement. I have observed a decline in patrol activities compared to earlier periods. Law enforcement agencies must take stronger measures to reduce these crimes.”