A series of murders, mob beatings and violent incidents in Gazipur have triggered growing concern and panic among residents, raising questions about the overall law and order situation in the district.
Although law enforcement agencies have carried out drives at different times, violent incidents and loss of lives continue unabated. Residents alleged that police become active only after crimes occur, while there is little visible effort to prevent such incidents.
According to locals, at least 16 murders took place in Gazipur between January and May 16 this year.
However, police officials are reluctant to describe the situation as a deterioration in law and order. Residents, on the other hand, say repeated killings have created a deep sense of insecurity among families across the district.
Many residents criticized police statements as “irresponsible” and said law enforcement agencies must take accountability for every incident.
Locals demanded increased police patrols, proper investigations and exemplary punishment for criminals to prevent further violence.
Series of killings
On January 15, jute mill worker Billal Hossain, 40, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being attacked with a hammer in Shailat village under Sreepur upazila. Police said he had been attacked the previous evening in front of Timex Jute Mill over suspicions involving an extramarital affair.
On February 1, madrasa student Abdur Rahim, 13, was allegedly killed by his elder brother Alamin Hossain in Joydebpur after threatening to complain to their father over a dispute involving a mobile phone.
On March 4, police recovered the body of Kamruzzaman Mollah, 65, vice-president of the Gazipur district chapter of SHUJAN (Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik), from the East Dhirashram area of Gazipur city. His hands and feet were tied and he had allegedly been strangled.
The following day, Habibur Rahman Habi Sikder, 70, was killed during a clash between two engineering workshop owners in Kaliganj over a dispute related to machine mold manufacturing.
On March 14, police recovered the dismembered body of an unidentified woman from a pond in Sreepur municipality. Police suspect she was killed elsewhere and the body parts were dumped to conceal the crime.
On April 7, a woman named Asma Akhter, 55, was allegedly strangled to death by her son-in-law in Pirujali area of Gazipur Sadar.
On April 11, police recovered the body of Jharna Akhter, 16, from a house in Sreepur municipality. Police suspect her husband killed her before informing neighbours.
On April 26, police recovered the bodies of Sohel Rana, 50, and his son Sakibur Rahman, 18, from Tongi East police station area. Police said another son, Saifur Rahman Sohan, was involved in the killings following a family dispute.
On the same day, police recovered the bloodstained body of Kulsum Begum, 45, from her room in Gazipur city. Her family claimed it was a planned murder.
On May 3, Konabari police recovered the body of garment worker Momtaz Khatun, 22, wrapped in a sack from Gazipur city.
On May 9, five members of a family, including a woman and her three daughters, were found slaughtered in Kapasia upazila. Police later recovered the body of the main accused, Forkan Mia, from the Padma River in Munshiganj.
In another incident the same day, local BNP leader Joynal Mokami, 62, was allegedly beaten during a mediation meeting in Sreepur over allegations of child rape. He died two days later while undergoing treatment.
On May 10, three men accused of cattle theft were beaten to death by locals in Kaliakoir upazila. Police later filed two cases against 500 unnamed individuals but no arrests have yet been made.
Police also recovered the body of an unidentified middle-aged man from the Shitalakshya River in Kapasia on the same day.
On May 11, auto-rickshaw driver Shuvo, 16, was found dead with his throat slit in Gacha area of Gazipur city.
Three days later, on May 14, police recovered the throat-slit body of auto-rickshaw driver Asif Hossain, 21, from a forest area in Sreepur.
Residents blame weak policing
Locals alleged that ineffective policing has encouraged people to take the law into their own hands.
Abubakar Siddique, a resident of Bagchala village in Kaliakoir, said incidents of cattle theft, robbery and drug-related crimes had increased in the area.
“Villagers started night patrols themselves because police were not taking effective action. If law enforcement had acted properly, people would not have resorted to mob violence,” he said.
Another resident, Abdul Jabbar, said prompt arrests and proper justice could have prevented many incidents.
Ward member Mofiz Uddin Molla said people were increasingly taking the law into their own hands and becoming involved in violent attacks and killings.
Police deny overall deterioration
Shafiqul Islam, in-charge of Phulbaria Police Camp under Kaliakoir police station, said manpower shortages made it difficult to patrol every area regularly, though patrol activities had recently been strengthened.
Gazipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Khandaker Ashfaq Uzzaman said the incidents stemmed from different motives and contexts.
“The Kapasia incident was family-related, while the Kaliakoir incident involved robbery allegations and public anger. We are investigating all cases and taking legal action where necessary,” he said.
He added that police patrols and drives against drugs and wanted criminals were continuing regularly.
Gazipur Superintendent of Police Sharif Uddin also said the police were actively investigating the incidents and trying to arrest those involved.
