The helmet, a piece of equipment synonymous with safety, has developed a more sinister reputation in recent years due to its misuse by a group of miscreants.
The installation of CCTV cameras across Dhaka has made it increasingly difficult for criminals to escape punishment for their illegal activities. As a result, a growing number of lawbreakers are resorting to using visored motorcycle helmets to conceal their identities.
Although helmets have been used in violent incidents in the country for many years, the term “Helmet Bahini” was coined during the Road Safety Movement in 2018. At the time, a group of helmet-wearing miscreants attacked and injured several students and journalists on multiple occasions.
Dia Khanam and Abdul Karim, students of Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College, were killed in a road accident on Airport Road near Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka on July 29, 2018. The incident sparked the countrywide movement.
On the seventh day of the movement on August 4, students and protesters were attacked in Jigatala, Dhanmondi and Science Laboratory areas of the capital. The attackers were beside the police, according to media reports, pictures, and footage published at that time.
The attackers wore helmets and were armed with rods, sticks, blades, and even firearms.
The next day, on 5 August, the protesting students were attacked again at the Science Laboratory area. Police were at the scene but took no action to stop them.
CCTV footage revealed that many of those who took part in the attacks on August 4 and 5, 2018 were leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League at various levels. Police made 22 arrests in the wake of the attacks, but everyone who wore a helmet evaded capture.
The Helmet Bahini once again entered the spotlight after they added to the mayhem during clashes between Dhaka College students and New Market traders on April 19 this year.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday morning, Chattra League General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharya said the student organization had no connection to the Helmet Bahini.
“During the clashes between New Market traders and Dhaka College students, both groups had mobs of people wearing helmets. It is not fair to generalize all helmet wearers as Chhatra League members,” he added.
When asked about the helmet-wearing attackers during the Road Safety Movement in 2018, Lekhak said: “Many of the general students and protesters were also seen with blades in their hands. Anyone can wear a helmet to hide their identity. Who were all those older people with sharp weapons?”
BNP lawmaker Rumeen Farhana told Dhaka Tribune: “It was proven that ruling party activists attacked the protesters of the Road Safety Movement while wearing helmets. That is why a long time has passed but police have been unable to arrest any members of the Helmet Bahini.”
What do the authorities say?
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told this correspondent: "During the clash between Dhaka College students and new market traders, traders of the new market wore helmets to protect themselves from brick bats"
Regarding the helmet-wearing youths who attacked the Road Safety Movement, the home minister said he could not remember the exact details of what happened in 2018 and police would be able to give the latest update.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam declined to comment on the 2018 attacks as he was not the police commissioner at the time
When contacted, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Faruk Hossain said no one wearing helmets had been arrested after 2018 attacks, as far as he knew.