The Dhaka’s night is turning dangerous nowadays; city dwellers are living in extreme insecurity everywhere from walking on the streets to riding vehicles as they worried about returning home safely.
The increase in the number of of robbery, extortion, and theft cases in the capital is causing concern and frustration among city dwellers.
Though the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali assured of safety, the uncertainty among dwellers sustains.
CCTV footage of Lake Circus Dolphin Alley in Kalabagan, Dhaka shows that Jyoti Basu Chakma couple was standing there and suddenly a man wearing helmet appeared with motorcycle and attacked the women with a machete at 4:32 am on 17th of December.
Cutting the bag’s belts with the machete, he took the bag from the woman’s shoulder, and chopped Basu as he refused to hand over his belongings. The miscreant took everything from Basu too, including his phone.
Recounting the horrific experience, victim Mr Basu said: “Three people, including two with machetes hit my wife with machetes and snatched her iPhone 13, and ring she was wearing.”
Locals said shared another incident that took place on 14th December at the same place, saying: “Passengers bound to come here as many of the bus counters are located here and many busses also dropped off passengers here midnight or early morning.”
On 16th December night, a video of snatching mobile phone from a private car commuter at Asad Gate of capital went viral on social media that was first shared by a FB user named Mazharul Islam Mohsin. At the same point, former Dhaka University student named Enamul Haque Robi was openly hacked and robbed on 21st December. The victim was severely cut and needed 24 stitches on his head and hand.
Additional Commissioner of DMP SN Md Nazrul Islam told Bangladesh Pratidin that they are trying their best to ensure safety of two crore Dhaka dwellers.
He said that they have increased petrol for foot, motorcycle and car in robbery-prone areas, and zone ACs and ADSs are on duty their roster basis. “Everything is being monitored from the DMP headquarters,” he added.
The additional commissioner expressed his hope of a positive change.
In response to a question, he said: “We are taking initiatives to ensure that the identified criminals do not get bail soon and criminals who came out on bail are also being kept under surveillance.”
There is a concern about the deterioration of the law and order situation in the entire country, including the capital Dhaka because of various criminal activities including robbery, robbery, assault, rape in broad daylight.
Several police officers, wishing to be unnamed, said: “After the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5th August, the police faced some challenges due to widespread attacks, distrust and controversial role during the movement; miscreants have taken the opportunity to deteriorate the law and order situation.”
The added that there is still an unknown fear among police members.
On the other hand, a data analysis on robbery between 1st November and 10th December shows that a maximum of three robbery cases were filed in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur, Khilgaon, Hatirjheel and Shahjahanpur police stations.
Two robbery cases were filed in Hazaribagh, Mirpur and Shah Ali police stations and one case was filed in 16 police stations.
65 cases were filed in various police stations in the capital from August to November.
In 2024, 25 robbery cases filed in January, 26 in February, 28 in March, 15 in April, 19 in May, 16 in June and 15 in July.
A number of seven people were killed by robbers so far in the last four and half months, since the fall of Sheikh Hasina.
Police and crime experts said: “The rise in the commodity prices and law enforcers’ inactiveness leads to an increase in the number of robbery.”
According to a data shared by Police, 65 cases of robbery have been registered in various police stations in the capital from August to November.
Crime analyst Dr Md Tawohidul Haque of Dhaka University explained the reason behind the increase of robbery cases. He told Bangladesh Pratidin that the law enforcement agencies fail to play formidable role, and the criminals are taking advantage of the situation.
He added: “Police are procrastinating in taking action against miscreants due to the fear of falling into new adverse situations.”
He asked police to be stricter; otherwise, he fears that the situation will go out of control.
Legal and Media Wing director of RAB Lieutenant Colonel Md Munim Ferdous told Bangladesh Pratidin that RAB considers the night scene of Dhaka very seriously.
He said: “All battalions in the capital have been given special instructions in this regard from the headquarters. Patrols and check posts have been increased in areas prone to theft and robbery.”
Translated by Afsar Munna
