The Geneva Camp, located in the Mohammadpur area of the capital, has become the synonym of terror as various crimes and clashes centering this place has been terrorizing the local people for many years. Almost every day various groups involves in fighting with each other. There were incidents of more than hundreds of clashes in last two and a half months over the control of drug dealings in the camp. Due to this dangerous and detrimental place, the whole Mohammadpur area has become the venue of terror and crime. All types of crime including snatching, robbery are increasing here in an alerming rate. Three people died and over hundreds were injured in these incidents.
Due to the gunshot incidents in genneva camp, the residents of Tajmahal Road, Babar Road and Humayaun Road, adjacent to the Genneva camp, are in continupous tension. They formed human chain and seizing the local Thana in protest of these incidents.
Those concerned say that the Geneva camp has now become a depot for illegal weapons and drugs. Weapons looted by the police were also found in the hands of terrorists in the camp. Even though law enforcement forces conducted a joint operation, the Geneva camp conflict did not stop. It is known that Geneva camp is the shelter of several drug syndicates. Local residents are in conflict with the expansion of the drug trade empire and the conflict of terrorist nurture. With the change of government, in the absence of the two main patrons of these drug cartels, the area is making a show of strength to maintain its influence and prestige. There’s a rumor that a group was assisted by Councilor of Ward 32 Syed Hasan Noor Islam under the umbrella of former local Member of Parliament Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak. Another group was assisted by former joint commissioner of DMP Biplab Kumar Sarkar.
According to local sources, after the fall of the government on August 5, the names of two terrorists 'Bania Sohail' and 'Parmanu' operating in the Geneva camp were revealed. The two groups clashed over dominance of the drug trade. There is an exchange of fire between them almost every day as casualties are increasing. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, the firearms looted from Mohammadpur and Ganabhaban were added to their conflict. The related sources said that the police are helpless against these terrorists. The law and order situation in the area is becoming fragile due to lack of adequate patrolling facility. However, temporary army camps are being set up in every locality in Mohammadpur.
Four people including children were shot dead in Geneva camp on October 26 evening. The shot victims were Amin, 27, Shafiq, 32, Sajjan alias Rahmat, 8 and an unidentified person. Earlier, on October 16, a restaurant worker named Shanemaz, 38 was shot dead in the Geneva camp. On September 4, the rickshaw driver Sonu, 30, was shot in the Geneva camp and was killed.
Sajid, a neighbor of the deceased Sonu, says that on the morning of the incident, Sonu told Bania Sohail, a drug dealer of Geneva camp, that you are selling drugs and destroying the youth. There was an argument between the two. At one point some people including Sohail opened fire on Sonu. Sonu was killed when it hit his chest. On September 29, 35 people involved in various crimes were arrested in the operation of RAB-2 and joint forces at Geneva camp in Mohammadpur. During the raid, two pistols, 20 bullets, indigenous weapons and drugs were recovered. RAB says that four of the arrested are drug dealers. The rest are involved in various crimes. Police say that weapons looted from police stations and public buildings after the fall of the Hasina government have worsened the situation in the Geneva camp. Almost every day there are incidents of shootings and counter-escapes in Mohammadpur's Geneva camp. These conflicts are mainly centered on the dominance of the drug trade.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a press release on Sunday said that since the acquisition of magisterial powers, 152 criminals, 18 firearms, 271 rounds of ammunition, 172 types of various domestic and foreign weapons, one grenade and a large quantity of narcotics have been seized from Mohammadpur, Adabar and Sher-e-bangla Nagar police station areas. The Army will continue to maintain a strict stance in countering terrorism and improving the law and order situation.
Recently there was a brazen robbery at a mini supershop in Bachila area of Mohammadpur. In the CCTV footage of the robbery incident, some machete wielding boys took two people as hostages in the supershop and ran away with money from the counter. In another video that has gone viral on social media, it is seen that around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night, hundreds of youths carried out a large-scale showdown with indigenous weapons in Mohammadpur Dhaka Udyan. At this time they frighten whoever they got on the street.
Locals say that no action was taken even though there were several cases and complaints against them in the local police stations when the Awami League government was in power. It is alleged that these drug dealers have looted weapons from Mohammadpur police station and Ganabhaban during the recent movement of students and mass people. Locals are claiming that these weapons are being used in ongoing clashes. But the weapons that have been recovered so far are not looted firearms, said law enforcement agencies. However, innocent people are getting injured in these conflicts.
About 50,000 people live in the Geneva camp. This densely populated area is adjacent to Babar Road, Humayun Road and Ghaznavi Road. Divided into 9 sectors, there are 30 narrow roads for movement inside the camp. Residents are living in one-story, two-story and three-story buildings of about 8-10 feet size. Although the residents of Bihari camp are involved in various occupations including car driving, selling meat, the main source of income for many is drug trade. There are more than 500 drug spots in Mohammadpur's Geneva camp.
On the surface, various shops can be seen around the Geneva camp. Inside this densely populated camp, there are many oligarchies. They also have many shops. There is a lot of traffic. Yaba, marijuana and heroin are being sold in the designated spots in such a crowd. A local resident said that they are controlling not only the camp, but all the Yaba syndicates around the camp. They have a lot of power, so no one dares to raise their voice. The surrounding residents are also fed up with their illegal and terror-inducing acrtivities.
Director of Law and Media Branch of RAB, Lt. Col. Munim Ferdous said, “Those who are directly involved in clashes or shootings in Geneva camp are not staying there. They are basically coming from outside and creating these conflicts. RAB operations and patrols around Geneva camp have been increased. Through this I will bring the situation of Geneva camp under control.”
Meanwhile, two large block raids were conducted in the Geneva camp. Army, RAB and police jointly participated in it. A lot of weapons and drugs were recovered in this operation and many arrests were made. However, the RAB official said that the weapons recovered from the camp were not looted weapons.
(Translated by Lutful Hoque)
