After the change in the political landscape of the country following the July-August movement, the country observes an increase in the crime rate, and inclusion of new dimension in the world of crime.
Members of juvenile gangs and young people are getting involved in these crimes. Robbery, extortion and housebreaking are increasing day by day.
In 19th of December, a group comprised of an young and two juveniles tried to loot Rupali Bank branch at Pakapul, Chunkutia of Keraniganj in Dhaka by holding officials and customers hostage. The member of law enforcement agencies made them surrender and identified them as Lyon Mollah Nirob (22), and two other teenagers aging 16. Lyon, a driver by profession, is the son of Kabir Mollah of Kumuria village in Kashiani upazila in Gopalganj, and the teenagers are from Kadamtali of South Keraniganj. One of the teenagers is a seventh grade student of a school, and the other is a student of a madrasa. They informed police during interrogation that they planned for the robbery inspired by a movie.
Breaking into locker, a group of robber have looted 45 bhari gold from Adabar in the capital on Friday. Police recovered 32 bhari of the looted jewelry and arrested two youths named Mahin and Rehan for their alleged involvement in the incident. Confirming the matter Adabor Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) SM Zakaria on Sunday said, “Following victim’s lawsuits, the police started an investigation and arrested the two involved after analyzing the CCTV footage.”
Several hundred members of juvenile gangs attacked on locals with local arms for making ‘obstacle’ in their drill at Mehdibagh of the same area, resulting in a panic engulf amidst the area people. Sources said that behind the horrific attack by the juvenile gang is Sumon alias DB Sumon, a known drug dealer and head of the juvenile gang in the Adabor area. He was once the head of the juvenile gang of local 30 no ward councilor Hasu and Kasu. Since Hasu and Kasu fled after the fall of the Awami League (AL) government, the juvenile gang is working as a tool of a BNP leader in their absence.
Babu, son of Mashiur Rahman Munna, who was injured in the incident, said: “On Friday night, several hundred members of the juvenile gang suddenly attacked us with local arms. My father was seriously injured in this attack. My father is a CNG driver.”
A couple of years ago, when information about the involvement of young people in women trafficking came to light, there was a lot of discussion about it. At that time, it was said that the young generation was engaging in crime and immoral activities under the guise of the social media app TikTok.
In 2021, a video of brutal torture after a young woman from the capital was lured and trafficked to India went viral on social media. The police investigation revealed the name of TikTok Hridoy Babu as the mastermind of this incident.
According to home ministry information, there are about 237 juvenile gangs across the country. Of these, 127 are in Dhaka with the largest number of members, 1,382. There are 57 in Chittagong with 316 people involved in those gangs. Not only in Dhaka or Chittagong, juvenile gangs are being formed under different names in the metropolitan areas of Gazipur and Khulna; they are involved in crimes like murder and rape. Members of these gangs are also getting involved in clashes and fights among themselves. The activities of juvenile gangs are also increasing in district towns.
Meanwhile, sources at the police headquarters say that 40 percent of those involved in criminal activities in Dhaka are teenagers.
On the night of December 18, a young man named Kamrul Hasan (23) was stabbed to death by a robber in Sayedabad. Two people were arrested in the incident. They are also under the age of 18. Two days after the robbery, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Wari Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mofizul Islam said at a press conference: “During a scuffle, the robber Rohan stabbed Kamrul in the chest with a sharp knife he was holding.”
It is learned that a teenager named Habibullah (18), who was stabbed by a robber in Moghbazar on December 15, died while undergoing treatment. Members of a teenage gang were also involved in the incident too.
After August 5, 10 people have been killed in clashes between teenage gangs in the capital's Mohammadpur alone.
Associate Professor Dr Md Tawohidul Haque of Dhaka University told Bangladesh Pratidin: “In most families in the country, parents do not pay much attention to their children. It is important to share time with children. Talk to your children, understand their state of mind. The bond between parents and children is very important.”
Translated by Afsar Munna
