Mohammadpur, a densely populated residential hub in Dhaka, has increasingly come under scrutiny as a hotspot for organised crime, with law enforcers and residents pointing to entrenched criminal networks, strategic geography and socio-economic vulnerabilities behind the surge.
At least 11 areas in Mohammadpur have effectively become safe havens for these groups, with law enforcers identifying the nearby embankment (Beribandh area) as a critical escape corridor enabling offenders to evade arrest.
Police and crime analysts say the combination of clustered gang activity and easy exit routes has made Mohammadpur one of the most challenging policing zones in the capital.
A recent killing has brought renewed attention to the situation.
On April 12, a young man, Alex Emon, was hacked to death in broad daylight following a reported dispute over dominance.
A video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, showed the victim being chased, cornered and attacked with sharp weapons.
Police said Emon himself had multiple criminal cases against him, including charges related to murder, extortion and drug offences -- reflecting the complex and often cyclical nature of violence in the area.
Expanding network of gangs
According to law enforcement sources, Basila, Dhaka Udyan, Chand Udyan, Navodaya Housing, Geneva Camp and its surrounding areas, Shanirbil, Bashbari slum, Sheikher Tek, Gaidar Tek Bridge and Mohammadpur Bus Stand are among the most crime-prone pockets.
These areas are believed to host networks of organised gangs involved in drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, land grabbing and contract-based violence.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), around 50 criminal gangs are currently active in Mohammadpur, including at least 17 major groups, each consisting of 15 to 20 members.
These groups, operating under names such as Patali Group, Level High Group, Dailla Group, Alex Group, Gangchil Group, Lou Thella Group, Kabji Kata Anwar Group, Farhad Group, Army Alamgir Group, Nabi Group, and Akbar Group, remain active across Mohammadpur and beyond.
Their sources of income reportedly include drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, land encroachment, and contract crimes.
Investigators note that many of these groups have opened Facebook pages to coordinate activities and recruit members, raising concerns about the growing use of social media in organized crime.
Law enforcement officials say some groups also use social media platforms to coordinate activities and assert dominance.
Residents say the impact is visible in daily life.
“Robbery, theft and even murder have become regular occurrences. It feels the same day and night,” said Jahangir Alam, a resident of Basila, who claims to have been robbed multiple times.
Fear, insecurity among residents
For many locals, daily life is increasingly shaped by insecurity.
Abu Bakkar Siddique, a homeowner in the Beribandh area, recounted a robbery at his residence in which assailants -- allegedly wearing law enforcement uniforms -- took away large sums of cash and gold.
“There is no sense of safety here. It is frightening to move around after dark,” he said, calling for stronger action.
Shopkeepers also report rising incidents of intimidation.
Kamal, a grocery store owner in Chand Udyan, said a group of youths recently threatened him with a machete before looting cash and goods.
“Even with security presence, we feel helpless,” he said.
Geography aids escape routes
Investigators say the Mohammadpur embankment (Beribandh area) plays a pivotal role in sustaining criminal activity.
After committing crimes, offenders frequently use the embankment to flee toward adjacent areas such as Savar, Hemayetpur, Aminbazar and Keraniganj, often crossing the Buriganga River by boat or dispersing through connecting road networks.
“The embankment acts like a transit route. Criminals can quickly disappear from the city after committing offences,” said Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mejbah Uddin.
Law enforcers say this geographic advantage makes it difficult to contain suspects within the immediate jurisdiction, complicating arrests and follow-up operations.
Law enforcement response
Authorities say operations have been intensified in recent months.
DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar said additional forces have been deployed, including Armed Police Battalion units, while block raids and combing operations are ongoing.
A new security camp has been established in Basila, and manpower has been increased to strengthen surveillance.
According to police data, between January and April this year alone, 323 cases were filed in Mohammadpur covering crimes such as theft, robbery, drug trafficking and land grabbing.
More than 1,000 arrests were made during the same period.
Over a longer period, since August 2024, around 4,400 individuals have been arrested in joint operations by police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Authorities are also planning to install more than 500 CCTV cameras in the area within the next month to enhance monitoring and improve response times.
Socio-economic drivers
Law enforcement and analysts say several underlying factors contribute to the persistence of crime.
Areas such as Geneva Camp, Basila, Dhaka Udyan and surrounding settlements have high concentrations of low-income and transient populations.
Limited access to education and employment opportunities has left many young people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups.
At the same time, Mohammadpur’s growing housing sector has created new economic incentives for illegal activities, particularly land grabbing and extortion.
“Criminal groups are targeting the flow of money linked to housing development,” said the OC.
Organised networks and influence
Criminologists say the issue extends beyond individual offenders.
Professor Muhammad Umar Farooq, a criminology expert, said organised syndicates have formed in the area, often with links to influential actors.
“These groups operate within a network of patronage. Without addressing those who support or benefit from them, it will be difficult to bring lasting control,” he said.
Despite visible enforcement efforts, residents say the situation has yet to stabilise.
The combination of organised crime networks, geographic advantages, economic incentives and social vulnerabilities continues to make Mohammadpur one of the most challenging areas for law enforcement in the capital.
For now, residents remain caught between intensified policing and persistent insecurity -- hoping for a more lasting solution to a problem that has deepened over time.
