The Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur, home to approximately 50,000 Bihari residents, has become a battleground for ruthless drug cartels vying for control in the aftermath of political upheaval. Over the past three months, violent clashes have escalated, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including a child, and injuring hundreds more.
The ongoing violence is fueled by rival factions—one backed by the BNP and led by "Chua Selim," the other by local Awami League supporters, notably “Bunia Sohel”—as they battle over the lucrative drug trade within the camp. The once tranquil community has descended into chaos, with sporadic gunfire, explosions, and widespread fear engulfing the area.
Armed with an array of firearms, including pistols, shotguns, and pipe guns, the perpetrators—many linked to local political factions—are often seen brazenly engaging in gunfights, even as law enforcement struggles to maintain control. Despite several operations, including raids by the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and the army, the violence persists, leaving residents in a state of constant terror and uncertainty.
Shahinur Rahman (pseudonym), a camp resident, said: “In 53 years, we’ve never seen such open use of firearms. Fights used to involve batons and bricks, with machetes and knives occasionally seen. But after the government change, violent clashes erupted, with gunshots and explosions echoing throughout the camp, spreading panic.”
“Chua Selim,” allegedly supported by some BNP leaders, had been underground for 15 years but is now openly carrying firearms. After the Awami League regime fell, he sought to take control of the camp, while “Bunia Sohel,” allegedly backed by the Awami League, resisted. Both groups, armed and determined to hold power, clashed. A restaurant worker, Shahen Shah (Kalo), was shot dead on August 6, and seven more people, including two children, died in the violence, with no signs of restraint.
Over the past three months, several videos of shootings and clashes inside Geneva Camp have gone viral on social media. In these videos, known drug dealers and terrorists from the camp were seen carrying various modern weapons, including Chinese-made firearms, shotguns, and pipe guns. This correspondent attempted to uncover how these weapons entered the camp and who was behind their supply.
According to detectives and several residents of the camp, these firearms entered in three phases. In July, local Awami League leaders provided at least ten weapons to Awami League and Jubo League supporters and activists in the camp to suppress the student movement.
After the fall of the government, Bihari terrorists seized at least 40 more firearms of various types during looting in the Mohammadpur, Adabor, and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations. In the third phase, “Chua Selim” and his cadres brought in at least 30 more firearms from outside to take control of the camp's drug trade.
Detectives said Awami League supporters “Molla Bashir” and “Bunia Selim” expanded their drug trade in the camp during the Awami League regime. Additionally, the cadres of sector-7 of the camp—Zainal Abedin Joy, Iqbal, and Amir—were ward unit leaders of the Awami League. A few other cadres, including Arman, Selim, Nashir, and Mahmud, were associated with the Jubo League.
In July, a former member of parliament and a former councillor of Dhaka North City Corporation’s ward number 32 reportedly provided several firearms to these cadres to suppress the student movement.
A resident of the camp, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent that in July, firearms were distributed to the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League leaders of each thana and ward unit to suppress the student movement. At that time, ten cadres, including “Bunia Sohel,” received firearms.
Subsequently, the government was toppled, and weapons entered the camp in a second phase. Most of the weapons looted during the police station attack were taken by Awami League supporters, according to this camp resident.
He further said that after the conflicts began within the camp, BNP supporters noticed that their opponents possessed a significant number of weapons. At this point, “Chua Selim” and his supporters procured weapons from outside.
During a raid inside the camp, army personnel found only three weapons. Over the past three months, joint operations by the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and army recovered 10 firearms and hundreds of locally-made weapons. Approximately 50 drug dealers and cadres from both sides, including “Bunia Sohel,” were arrested.
Openly carrying firearms
Clashes between rival groups in the camp have seen individuals carrying a range of firearms, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and pipe guns. Among those observed armed were “Chua Selim,” “Killer Akram,” “Parmanu,” Shah Alam, “Galkata Manu,” “Picchi Raja,” “Ulta Salam,” Boba Biryani’s Altaf, “Forma Kamran,” Billa Imran, Ershad, Irfan, “Picchi Shakib,” “Mulla Bashir,” “Bunia Sohel,” his brother Rana, Tuntun, Rajan, Kalo, “Syedpuria Babu,” “Laddu Kasai,” his son Parvez, “Picchi Shakil,” Niaz, Kalo Anwar, “Kalim Jambu,” Deen, Naushad, Dano, Amir Zainal Abedin Joy, Armaan, “Chaku” alias Noor Islam, “Guppy Dalal,” Iqbal, Farid, Arif, Bom, Naushad, Rocky, Heera, “Kana Anwar,” Muktar, Naseem, Kamal Biryani’s Irfan, “Delhi Saheed,” “Goli Zahid,” Zinda Mohammed Ali, and “Murgi Suman.”
Saikat Ali Master, convenor of the Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee (SPGRC), described the ongoing violence in the camp, stating that residents have endured constant gunfights, explosions, and looting for months, mainly due to the drug trade. He noted the rise of a powerful syndicate behind the violence, with weapons flooding the camp under unknown circumstances. Videos of armed individuals have circulated widely.
Iqbal Hossain, joint convener of the SPGRC, mentioned that on October 27, they informed the interim government about the camp’s situation, leading to regular raids by law enforcement and the army. The letter detailed the ongoing internal conflicts and the urgent need for intervention.
Major Niamul, camp commander of the Bangladesh Army’s Mohammadpur camp, said several joint operations have been conducted in Geneva Camp. The situation in the camp has improved to some extent.
“However, we have kept the camp under surveillance and are prepared to face any situation. A few weapons have already been recovered from the Geneva Camp. The police, RAB, and intelligence agencies are working to recover more weapons from the camp. Based on the information, an operation will be conducted soon to recover these weapons,” he added.
Israil Howlader, additional commissioner of police (crime and operations) for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said: “We have heard that some weapons have entered the camp through various means, but the exact extent is uncertain. Our intelligence gathering and operations are ongoing to prevent clashes in the camp and to bring criminals to justice. Policemen are permanently stationed on both sides of the camp. In the meantime, several people, including ‘Bunia Sohel,’ have been arrested. Gradually, all criminals will be brought to justice. No one will be spared.”
How the clashes broke out in the camp
Reports indicate that at least 22 active drug trafficking and terrorist groups operate in nine sectors of the camp. Following the government change on August 5, these groups split into two factions, clashing over control of the drug trade. Drugs worth Tk50 lakh are sold daily, with part of the profits going to local political leaders. After a conflict over money-sharing, “Mullah Bashir” joined the BNP-backed “Chua Selim,” escalating tensions within the camp.
Groups from sectors 7, 3, and 5 sided with “Bunia Sohel,” while Bashir aligned with “Chua Selim,” which also gained support from sectors 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Within each faction, small teenage gangs control drug-selling spots, while the main groups manage administrative and political issues.
The Non-Local Relief Committee (NLRC) and SPGRC, which previously worked with residents, dissolved after the government change. On September 12, residents formed a new convening committee for the SPGRC.
Drugs enter the camp easily through open borders, with women and children used to transport them, often hidden in garbage trucks or food products. Heroin and Yaba are smuggled discreetly. A drug dealer anonymously said that as long as drugs enter the country, they will remain in the camp.
Saikat Ali Master, SPGRC convenor, emphasized that the government must address how drugs bypass numerous checkpoints.
Iqbal Hossain, SPGRC joint convener, criticized law enforcement's inability to control the violence inside the camp, citing ongoing clashes and deaths despite police presence. While some arrests have been made, many key figures remain active.