Seven people, including a child, were killed in recent clashes over establishing dominance in the drug trade inside Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur. These deaths were caused by gunshots and cocktail explosions. Hundreds of people, including women and children, were injured in these clashes. In the past three months, there has been a panic among the 50,000 Bihari people living in the camp. Since August 5, the fall of the Awami League government, there have been sporadic clashes between drug dealers in the camp. Different types of firearms were seen in the hands of a number of individuals during the clashes. Interestingly, these firearms entered the camp after the July-August student protests and the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Shahinur Rahman (pseudonym), a resident of the camp, said: "In the last 53 years—since the formation of the camp—such open use of firearms was not seen. Batons and brickbats were used in fights inside the camp normally. Local weapons, such as machetes and knives, were also seen in the hands of the miscreants. However, after the change of the government, violent clashes erupted inside the camp. The sound of gunshots and cocktail explosions echoed throughout the camp. Panic spread among the residents, Shahinur said.
“Chua Selim”, who is supported allegedly by some leaders of the BNP, was underground for the past 15 years. However, he and his supporters are now carrying firearms in broad daylight inside the camp. After the fall of the regime, “Chua Selim” wanted to take control of the entire camp. In the meantime, “Bunia Sohel”, who is supported allegedly by the local Awami League, resisted the rise of the opponent. This group, however, already had some weapons in hand and badly wanted to retain power. In this situation, the clashes erupted inside the camp. A restaurant worker named Shahen Shah alias Kalo was shot dead on August 6, a day after the clashes began. After that, seven more people, including two children, died in these clashes. But there is still no sign of any leash on these groups.
In the past three months, several videos of multiple shootings and clashes inside the Geneva Camp have gone viral on social media. In these videos, some listed drug dealers and terrorists of the camp were seen carrying various modern weapons, including made-in-China weapons, shotguns and pipe guns. This correspondent tried to find out how these weapons entered the camp and who was behind these shipments.
According to detectives and several residents of the camp, these firearms entered the camp in three phases. In July, some Awami League and Jubo League supporters and activists inside the camp were given at least ten weapons by the local Awami League leaders to suppress the student movement.
After the fall of the government, Bihari terrorists seized at least 40 more firearms of different types during looting in Mohammadpur, Adabor and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations. “Chua Selim” and his cadres then brought in at least 30 more firearms from outside in the third phase to take control of the camp's drug trade.
It is known that Awami League supporters “Molla Bashir” and “Bunia Selim” expanded their drug trade in the camp during the Awami League regime. Also, the cadres of sector-7 of the camp, Zainal Abedin Joy, Iqbal, and Amir were ward unit leaders of the Awami League. 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 gave several firearms to these cadres to suppress the student movement.
A resident of the camp, on the condition of anonymity, told this correspondent that in July, firearms were given 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”, were given firearms. Then suddenly the government toppled and weapons entered the camp in the second phase. Most of the weapons that were looted during the attack on the police station were taken by Awami League supporters, this camp resident claimed.
He further said that after the conflicts started inside the camp, the BNP supporters saw that the opponents had a number of weapons with them. At that point, “Chua Selim” and his supporters bought weapons from outside. In the third phase, more than 30 weapons entered the camp.
Only three weapons were found by the army personnel during a raid inside the camp. Then in the last three months, 10 firearms and hundreds of locally-made weapons were recovered in joint operations by the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and army. The law enforcement agencies arrested around 50 drug dealers and cadres of both sides, including “Bunia Sohel”.
Those who were seen carrying firearms
Many people were seen with pistols, revolvers, shotguns, pipe guns, and other types of firearms in multiple clashes between the two sides. Among them, “Chua Selim” was seen holding a pistol and revolver several times. Meanwhile, “Killer Akram”, “Parmanu”, Shah Alam, “Galkata Manu”, “Picchi Raja”, “Ulta Salam”, Boba Biryani's Altaf, “Forma Kamran”, Billa Imran, Ershad, Irfan, “Picchi Shakib” and “Mullah Bashir” were seen engaging in gunfights in several videos.
“Bunia Sohel”, his brother Rana, Tuntun, Rajan and Kalo were also seen carrying different types of weapons. In addition, “Syedpuria Babu”, “Laddu Kasai”, his son Parvez and “Picchi Shakil”, Niaz, Kalo Anwar, “Kalim Jambu” were also seen armed in multiple clashes. Deen, Naushad, Dano, Amir Zainal Abedin Joy, Armaan, “Chaku” alias Noor Islam, “Guppy Dalal”, Niaz, Iqbal, Farid son of “Motki Shima”, Arif, Dano, Bom, Naushad, Rocky, Heera, “Kana Anwar”, Muktar, SK Jilani's son Naseem, Kamal Biryani's Irfan, “Delhi Saheed”, “Goli Zahid”, Zinda Mohammed Ali, “Murgi Suman” were also seen carrying firearms.
Saikat Ali Master, convenor of Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee (SPGRC), a non-governmental organization working for the development of Bihari communities, said: "We have not been able to sleep properly for about three months. In the evening, there are fights, cocktail explosions, and shootings. One group fired from this side, and another group fired from that side. They are all drug dealers. There is no one to protest. They are killing people, vandalizing houses and shops, and even looting valuables. For the past three months, none of the camp residents have been able to sleep properly.”
He also said that the main reason for the conflict in the camp was the drug trade. Not everyone in the camp is involved in the drug trade. There is a group; there is a syndicate. Influential people have built this syndicate. They shoot and kill people. Many weapons have arrived in the camp in this short period. How did they come? Who gave them to the cadres? Many videos of their weapons are coming in the media, Saikat Ali Master said.
Iqbal Hossain, joint convener of SPGRC, said: “On October 27, we sent a letter to the chief adviser of the interim government to inform him about the situation of the camp. Chief Adviser’s Assistant Personal Secretary Sabbir Hossain received the letter. Since then, members of law enforcement agencies along with the army have been conducting regular raids in the camp. When asked about the details of the letter, Iqbal Hossain said they wrote about their problems and needs and highlighted the current situation of the camp. They also mentioned the clashes inside the camp, Iqbal said.
Major Niamul, camp commander of the Bangladesh Army’s Mohammadpur camp, said that several joint operations have been conducted in Geneva Camp. The situation in the camp has improved to some extent.
“But we have kept the camp under surveillance and are ready to face any situation. A few weapons have already been recovered from the Geneva Camp. The police, RAB, and members of the intelligence agencies are working on the recovery of more weapons that are in the camp. Based on the information, an operation will be conducted very soon to recover these weapons,” he added.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Israil Howlader said: “We have heard that some weapons have entered the camp in various ways. But to what extent, it is not certain. 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 have been arrested, including “Bunia Sohel”. Gradually, everyone will be brought under the law. No criminal will be spared.”
How the clashes broke out in the camp
According to information, there are at least 22 active drug trafficking and terrorist groups within nine sectors of the camp. After the change of government on August 5, the groups split into two and clashed over control of the camp's drug trade. Drugs worth Tk50 lakh are sold in the camp every day. A part of the money goes to the local political leaders and activists. Earlier, the money used to be carried by “Mullah Bashir”. After August 5, “Mullah Bashir” had a conflict with “Bunia Sohel” over the sharing of drug money. Then Bashir joined BNP backed “Chua Selim” and a conflict started inside the camp.
A few groups from sectors 7, 3 and 5 joined “Bunia Sohel” as well. On the other hand, former Awami League supporter Bashir joined “Chua Selim”. In addition, the groups of sectors 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 also joined “Chua Selim”.
Within each group, there are several sub-groups. Drugs are mainly sold through small groups. Drug-selling spots are kept under control by teenage gangs, local residents said. On the other hand, the main group and group members work on administration, problems inside the camp, and political issues.
There are two organizations, namely Non-Local Relief Committee (NLRC) and SPGRC, that work with the camp residents. After the change of government, the committee members of both organisations fled. Then on September 12, the residents of the camp announced the abolition of the two committees and announced a convening committee of the SPGRC.
The surroundings of the camp are open. As a result, drugs are entering there without hindrance. Women and children are being used to carry drugs. Also, these drugs are being brought inside the camp by putting them in garbage trucks or various food products. Heroin and Yaba are small in size and can be brought anyway, locals added. A drug dealer, on condition of anonymity, said that as long as drugs enter the country, those will be available in this camp.
In this regard, Saikat Ali Master, convenor of the SPGRC, said that drugs are being sold openly outside and inside the camp. Bringing in drugs is not a problem at all. The government has to answer how drugs are entering the country despite so many checkpoints at the border. If the government wants, no more drugs will enter the country. There will be no drug trade in the camp either, he added.
Iqbal Hossain, joint convener of SPGRC, said: “Law enforcement agencies cannot control the clashes. If they had any control, seven fresh lives would not have been lost, and so many people would not have been injured. Police are stationed at the gates of the camp, while clashes continue inside. Police say they are not responsible for what happens inside the camp. Sometimes there are raids inside the camp. Still, there were so many murders. There is constant conflict; people are dying, and the common residents are held hostage.”
He said: “We are always in touch with the administration. I want their cooperation. They are also trying to solve the problems. But the main culprits remain elusive. Although law enforcers have arrested “Bunia Sohel” from Sylhet, many are still active in the camp.”
