As Dhaka prepares for the biggest Islamic festival of the year, street crimes have increased at an alarming rate in the recent days with gangs of criminals, better known as aggyan party, malam party and dhakka party thronging the city's bus terminals, train stations, and launch terminals.
On July 25, Farid Hossain, a resident of Barguna district was at the Sadarghat launch terminal around 5pm, on his way back home for Eid. He was offered some food items by a stranger which he unsuspectingly consumed.
Sumon, an eyewitness of the incident, later told the police that Farid was seen throwing up and asking for water before fainting.
He told Sumon that he had consumed food given by a stranger. He was later taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where he regained consciousness on Sunday. He lost everything except his national identity card.
In a similar story on last week, the examination controller at the University of Information Technology & Sciences, Shajahan Ali of Mymensingh fell victim to aggyan party.
He luckily survived from the effects of the toxic food offered to him by a stranger on the train, but ended up losing all his belongings.
According to law enforcement agencies, these criminals operate mostly in gangs at the city's different bus, launch terminals and railway stations, while mingling with the passengers.
They pick their prey after close surveillance and after some light conversation offer them something to drink or eat, mixed with drugs. Once it takes effect, the passengers are robbed off all their belongings.
These gangs allegedly operate in cooperation with workers of buses, launches as well as taxi and auto-rickshaws drivers.
Around 300 members of different gangs, divided into 50 groups, carry out their activities at different parts of the city.
Sometimes the gangs use sharp weapons to rob valuables from unsuspecting victims.
According to sources at DMCH, at least five to 10 people get admitted to the hospital every day, falling prey to the gang members, and the numbers are rising.
Police sources said gangs like the aggyan party, dhakka party or malam party, have increased their activity during this Eid season.
The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel on duty at the Gabtali bus terminal on Tuesday told this correspondent that they have not received any complaints from anyone.
However, Monirul Islam, joint-commissioner of the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) admitted to the Dhaka Tribune that criminal activities by these gangs increase each year during Eid festivities.
He advised people not to take any food or drink from strangers while traveling.
He also said people should avoid buying food from makeshift shops or vendors, as they might be drugged by the same parties.
Monirul talked about taking stern action against such gangs and claimed members of the intelligence department were deployed at different key points of the capital to stop such activities.