Five incidents of mayhem in Dhaka in three days: Contract gangs active

There are five incidents of mayhem in Dhaka found in three days. There are contract gangs are remaining active who have taken part in these incidents, sources said.

It goes on a rampage, encroaching land, snatching and other criminal activities on a contract basis in exchange for money. These are the preliminary statements made during police interrogation by two men who were arrested in connection with an attack and looting incident in Mohammadpur.

Police arrested Md Limit and Md Monowar Hossain Saddam over a vandalism incident at a plot in Chand Udyan Housing.

Several incidents of attacks and looting have been reported in Dhaka and its adjoining areas over the past three days. At least five incidents have drawn widespread attention. Four took place in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Adabor and Manikdi, while another occurred in Ashulia of Savar.

The Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1 had been a trusted place for thousands of disadvantaged and low-income women and children since 1974. On Thursday midnight, a group of 200 to 250 people went on a rampage there.

They looted medicines, vaccines and various medical equipment and materials. As a result of the looting, they demolished the entire health centre using bulldozers and excavators. Later on, a signboard reading “Sammona Dokandar Samabaya Samity Limited” was put up at the site.

The criminals targeted not only the hospital but also residential buildings, housing plots and construction projects, a studio and two madrasas. The incidents that have occurred over the past three days have raised concern among ordinary people.

Following the Radda incident, the officer-in-charge of Shah Ali Police Station was withdrawn. Victims have also accused police of inaction and delays in several incidents.

CCTV footage of Radda incident reveals law enforcement vehicles in the surroundings while the vandalism was taking place. The facility is reduced to rubble in front of law enforcers. Police allegedly remained silent spectators throughout the incident.

Amidst criticism, Shah Ali Police Station OC Jahangir Alam was withdrawn. A case was filed against 200 to 250 people, including former Dhaka North BNP member Hanif Mia. So far, nine people have been arrested.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Aktar Hossain told Asia Post, “A committee has been formed over the Radda incident. Action has also been taken.”

Investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer wrote on Facebook, “An organised group demolished a health centre in Mirpur and looted it. There was only one force behind it—the use of political muscle. There was also only one objective—land grabbing. And the law enforcement agencies in the area were inactive despite knowing everything.”

In Chand Udyan Housing in Mohammadpur, a group of 150 to 200 people launched an attack on Saturday morning (September 26). They broke through the tin fencing of a 35-katha plot and entered the premises. They then vandalised and looted the office.

Police arrested Md Limon and Md Monowar Hossain Saddam in connection with the incident. They reportedly admitted that they were carrying out snatching and land-grabbing activities on a contractual basis in exchange for money.

An eight-storey building owned by businessman Aminur Rahman in Shyamoli Housing in Adabor was also attacked on Saturday. A group of criminals armed with machetes, cleavers and pistols vandalised the building’s gate and CCTV cameras. During the attack, they reportedly said, “Give us money, or leave the house.”

The victim’s family said a group had occupied the house for one and a half years after August 5, 2024. They regained possession on March 12 following a court verdict. The group then demanded extortion money. When the family refused to pay, the group attempted to retake the house.

Victims of both the Chand Udyan and Shyamoli incidents called the national emergency service 999. However, they alleged that police arrived at the scenes three to three and a half hours after having done so.

A project of New Guinea Properties in the Manikdi area near the ECB intersection was attacked on Saturday night. A group of 200 to 250 armed men went there and fired blank shots. Construction workers were beaten during the attack. Sixteen mobile phones and goods worth around Tk 3 crore were looted.

The “Brownfish Studio” of content creator Salman Muqtadir was completely destroyed during the attack. Salman initially said the incident was related to an extortion demand. Police, however, said the attack stemmed from a dispute over land and a road.

Four people, including alleged mastermind Shahriar, have been arrested in connection with the attack on New Guinea Properties.

DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime Prevention-North) Md Mahidul Islam said, “We currently have no information about any extortion demand. Initially, it appears that the incident may have resulted from a dispute between rival groups over land. We will know the details after a proper investigation.”

On Sunday afternoon (September 27), criminals attacked Tahfizul Quranil Karim Fazil Madrasa and Ashia Ashraf Women’s Madrasa in Sripur of Ashulia, Savar. More than 50 armed men entered the premises and went on a rampage.

They broke the CCTV control unit, computers and lockers and looted around Tk 30 lakh.

Allegations have surfaced that local Awami League and BNP leaders and activists jointly carried out the attack with the aim of taking control of property belonging to the governing board and trust. However, Dhamsona Union BNP acting president Zakir Hossain denied involvement in the incident.

So far, 15 people have been arrested in the Radda, Chand Udyan and Manikdi incidents. Nine were arrested over the Radda incident, two over the Chand Udyan incident and four over the Manikdi incident.

The incidents have raised questions about the overall law and order situation in the country. The role of police has also come under scrutiny.

Zulkarnain Saer wrote on Facebook, “The same scene was witnessed again just 24 hours later. This time, another organised group targeted a privately owned business establishment. The reason was the same—land grabbing. The question is, were the law enforcement agencies inactive again, or was there simply no willingness to act?”

In a statement, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said an attack and an attempt to take over a charitable organisation that had been providing free services to poor and vulnerable mothers and children for half a century took place in front of hundreds of people.

TIB said such behaviour by activists of a party that came to power after a bloody movement and a historic election was undermining public confidence.

According to TIB, following the fall of the previous government, a competition for reckless occupation and extortion began among a section of party activists seeking control over bus terminals, markets, sand quarries, water bodies, cable and internet services and other sectors.

The organisation said such a culture was preventing crime from declining. It called for law enforcement agencies to be allowed to take firm action independently against those involved in crimes, regardless of their political identity.

Professor Saber Ahmed Chowdhury of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dhaka said, “This is not a new phenomenon in the context of Bangladesh. It has always existed, to some extent, in our political culture. However, its intensity often increases after an election when a new government takes office.

“The government has recently taken charge. Administratively, it has not yet been able to fully place the right people in the right positions. The country has gone through a prolonged period of poor governance. As a result, a large number of people are involved who are essentially beneficiaries. Most of them benefit under every government.

“So, regardless of which political party comes to power, this group becomes active to serve its own interests.”

He said, “The government should keep a very close eye on this. Those in power have the responsibility to control it. As citizens, we want this issue to receive attention quickly. The perpetrators should be given exemplary punishment, and that should be reported in the media. Then those looking for such opportunities will come under some control.”

Asked whether the DMP was investigating the delay in police arrival at the scenes and the occurrence of crimes in the presence of police, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Aktar Hossain told Asia Post, “Investigations into these matters are conducted in several ways. Sometimes they are conducted on verbal instructions. At other times, a formal committee is formed to investigate.

“In some cases, investigations have been conducted on verbal instructions. When an incident occurs at a police station, there are assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners responsible for monitoring it. They conduct investigations. It is, to a large extent, an automatic process. Every incident is investigated.”

He said, “In many cases, they may have conducted the investigations themselves on verbal instructions. There is no complaint without an investigation. The police’s responsibility in every incident will be investigated and action will be taken.”