The police have recently discovered that several robber gangs in Dhaka have been taking advantage of the Mouchak-Moghbazar Flyover’s infrastructural structure and uncovered several of their hideouts.
The Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover is the second-largest flyover in Dhaka. The eight-km infrastructure connects roads in eight areas of the capital, over seven important intersections.
Thousands of vehicles ply this flyover every day, and there are also various business establishments and residential buildings on both sides of the flyover.
Following a recent robbery, law enforcement discovered that robber gangs were exploiting the flyover's structure. The slabs, which have been installed on the pillars of the flyover, are hollow inside -- creating empty spaces like tunnels throughout the entire flyover.
How robbers operated
Law enforcers said some members of the gangs would take positions in the hideouts, while others would go out at night.
The gangs also have women robbers, who would show people the wrong way if they found someone alone on the flyover. As soon as someone went in the wrong direction, the other members of the gangs who were sitting in the hideouts would come out, attack and snatch their belongings.
Recently, a man named Shamim Khan was robbed on the flyover.
What police found
On Thursday afternoon, police discovered that the slabs of the flyover could be entered through several places from the FDC intersection to Moghbazar.
The spaces were shrouded in so much darkness that it was impossible to see even in daylight.
The gang, which attacked Shamim, had set up a hideout there, and police also found they used to carry out several illegal activities there, including drug peddling.
According to police, the gang had cut off a blanket's fabric to create a rope-like design to climb up to their hideouts situated above the pillars.
The gang mainly targeted motorcycles, private cars, CNG-run autorickshaws and pedestrians using the flyover.
What happened to Shamim
On August 9, Shamim was going to his Pallabi residence on his motorcycle, at around 11pm.
The motorcycle he was riding stopped when it ran out of fuel at the Moghbazar intersection. At that time, a woman suggested that Shamim take a different route, and he listened to her.
Within seconds, some members of a robber gang, armed with sharp weapons, stood in front of Shamim. Before he could understand anything, the robbers started attacking him.
During this time, two other motorcyclists saw the scene, and the robbers managed to flee.
However, the woman, who asked Shamim to take a different route, was caught by the motorcyclists.
They later called National Emergency Service 999, after which police rushed to the spot and rescued Shamim.
On August 10, Hatirjheel police station officers arrested four people for their alleged involvement in the incident.
Two of the arrested women, Shefali and Meem, have confessed before a Dhaka court under Section 164. Their statements revealed how the gang used to operate on the flyover.
Locals unaware
Dulal Mia, a tea seller said: "I've often seen some young people hang out under that pillar at night. However, I never saw how robbers climbed up, or how they built the hideouts.”
Besides, “Hotel Hatijheel Abashik” is near one of the pillars of the flyover.
An employee of the hotel said: "People have done some paintings on the flyover recently. I've seen a lot of people go up. Hundreds of people come here every day. It's hard to identify who the robbers are.”
He added that he has been working at the hotel for a long time but had no idea about robbers building hideouts on top of the pillars.
What police say
Hatirjheel police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shah Md Awlad said one of the arrestees, Meem, spoke to them about the hideouts in detail.
‘We needed help from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, as the hideouts were on top of the pillars,’ he said.
Speaking of the interrogation of the arrestees, he said: "Akbar is the head of this robbery gang. Seeing the police and fire service personnel, Akbar leapt from one of the pillars and tried to escape. However, he could not go far due to injuries to his hands and legs.
“During interrogation, Akbar said he had been committing various crimes, including robbery, in the Moghbazar Flyover, Karwan Bazar, and surrounding areas for a long time,” the OC added.
The OC further said Akbar works at Karwan Bazar and cuts fish during the day; and at night he robbed people.
When asked about the tunnel-like hideouts, OC Shah Md Awlad Hossain said the city corporation has been informed of the matter. Police have increased security in the area in the meantime.
The OC also said police are now trying to identify the other members of the robber gang.