A series of shootings, killings, robberies and other violent crimes in Dhaka in recent days has raised fresh concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation, with criminals increasingly resorting to violence over seemingly trivial incidents.
In the latest incident, a 27-year-old expatriate youth was stabbed to death after a group of local criminals allegedly entered a house in the capital’s Adarshapara area of Sabujbagh yesterday afternoon.
The victim, Sifat Ullah, was visiting his girlfriend when the group allegedly tried to drag him downstairs. A scuffle followed, during which the attackers hacked him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured. He later died at a hospital.
Two others were also injured in the incident.
The killing came amid a string of violent incidents across the capital, including a businessman being shot inside his shop in Shani Akhra, a woman being shot at her home in Darus Salam and the recovery of an unidentified man’s body from the Airport-bound elevated expressway in Banani.
In another incident, a man carrying Tk38 lakh after withdrawing the money from a bank was robbed by a group of motorcycle-borne criminals in Dhanmondi.
Youth stabbed to death in Sabujbagh
According to locals, Sifat was at the house of his girlfriend, Nazifa Sheikh, when six or seven local criminals, including Joy, Rajib and Yasin, entered the premises and tried to take him downstairs.
Nazifa said Sifat resisted and a scuffle broke out. The attackers then stabbed him repeatedly, while Rajib and Yasin were also injured.
Sifat was taken to a hospital, where he died later that evening.
Nazifa said she had been in a relationship with Sifat for around two years and that their families were discussing their marriage.
She identified Joy as a known criminal in the area.
However, Rajib alias Rabbi gave a different account, claiming that they had gone to the house after receiving information that immoral activities were taking place there. He alleged that Sifat attacked them with a sharp weapon, triggering the confrontation.
Businessman shot inside Shani Akhra shop
In Shani Akhra, businessman Aslam Khan, 40, was shot inside his Lucky Crockeries shop in front of Royal Hospital.
He suffered gunshot wounds to his left elbow and the right side of his face and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Aslam’s friend Anwar Hossain said two men entered the shop and one of them shot Aslam.
Locals managed to detain one suspect, while another fled the scene.
Anwar called for stronger security measures, saying businesspeople were increasingly concerned about their safety.
Woman shot at home in Darus Salam
In Darus Salam, the Rapid Action Battalion arrested three people, including the husband of a woman who was shot at her home.
RAB-4 also recovered a foreign-made firearm, a magazine, two bullets and 215 yaba tablets from them.
Local businessmen alleged that one of the arrested men, Mannan, is a known drug dealer and armed criminal who controls drug trading and extortion in the area.
They said businesses cannot operate in the area without paying extortion money.
An unidentified man was found dead on the Airport-bound elevated expressway near Banani around 8:45am on September 4.
The man’s face and both hands were wrapped in Scotch tape, while black marks were visible around his neck.
Police have yet to identify the victim.
According to a source, a bus supervisor noticed a bundle of money while a passenger was paying his fare. The driver and helper allegedly killed the passenger and later dumped his body on the expressway.
Tk38 lakh snatched in Dhanmondi
In another incident, a man carrying Tk38 lakh after withdrawing the money from a bank was intercepted by three motorcycle-borne criminals in Dhanmondi.
The gang was later arrested with weapons, according to police.
The incidents have fueled concerns among residents and businesspeople as reports of shootings, snatching and killings continue to emerge from different parts of the capital.
Over 1,300 arrested in three days
Dhaka Metropolitan Police has conducted drives across the capital over the past three days, arresting more than 1,300 people and filing over 150 cases.
Illegal firearms have also been recovered during the drives.
Despite the operations, however, the frequency of violent crimes has raised questions about whether law enforcement efforts are succeeding in containing crime.
DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday evening that DB, CTTC, intelligence and plainclothes police teams were working round the clock to maintain security.
He said the number of police checkposts in the city had been increased from 34 to 81.
“An all-out effort is being made to keep the city safe,” the commissioner said, adding that law enforcement agencies were being deployed immediately after incidents and investigations were being conducted quickly.
Experts call for stronger policing
Dr Md Omar Faruk, a professor at the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said the growing incidents of snatching, public shootings, extortion and killings were creating fear and anxiety among city residents.
He said economic instability was one of the factors behind the rise in snatching, while criminal syndicates were becoming increasingly organized.
“Snatching was previously mostly carried out by drug addicts, but now organized syndicates are operating in specific areas,” he said.
He also alleged that some police, local political figures and other influential members of society were involved in criminal activities, making it difficult to effectively control crime.
Dr Faruk said police needed research-based crime prevention plans and improved training and professionalism.
He said the police force had yet to fully recover from the disruption following August 5, adding that restoring professionalism and public confidence was essential.
“If the police become professional, they can do everything,” he said.
RAB launches nighttime motorcycle patrols
Meanwhile, RAB has launched cross-country motorcycle patrols in Adabor, Mohammadpur and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in response to the recent rise in snatching.
RAB-2 ASP Sourav Mahmud said the patrols began on Saturday night and would continue regularly from 9pm to 5am.
He said the initiative was aimed at strengthening nighttime security and creating fear among snatchers operating in the areas.
