Video of attempted CNG theft and stabbing on Dhaka-Ctg highway sparks outcry
In the video, a man can be seen hanging from the back of a moving CNG auto-rickshaw while two people inside repeatedly attempt to stab him through the open door.
A video of an attempted CNG-run auto-rickshaw hijacking on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Narayanganj has gone viral on social media, though police are yet to confirm the exact location and timing of the incident.
The footage, which began circulating yesterday morning (24 October), was reportedly posted by bus passenger Nazir Uddin Shah, who claimed to have recorded it around 12:20am in the Madanpur area.
In the video, a man can be seen hanging from the back of a moving CNG auto-rickshaw while two people inside repeatedly attempt to stab him through the open door.
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The uploader claimed the victim was the driver, clinging to the vehicle to stop the hijackers from escaping with it.
Wahid Morshed, officer-in-charge of Kanchpur Highway Police Station, said police had seen the video and launched an investigation to verify when and where the incident occurred.
"No written complaint has been filed regarding this incident. Verification is underway to determine the exact time and place," he said.
The video shows the CNG changing lanes before passing under a bright billboard advertising Salam Steel, which investigators believe is located near the Madanpur Bus Stand on the Chattogram-bound lane.
Tarek Al Mehedi, additional superintendent of police (crime) for Narayanganj district, said, "After the video was circulated, police patrols have been increased around the Madanpur CNG stand and nearby areas. So far, no information has been found about the vehicle or the hijacking gang, and no complaint has been filed."
Incidents of theft and robbery have occurred before on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, particularly at night in areas such as Signboard and Chittagong Road.
In some previous cases, videos surfaced showing passengers being robbed after their vehicles were stopped.
Last December, vehicles carrying coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement were attacked in the Mograpara area of Sonargaon, with their phones and bags snatched.
Although police arrested several suspects at the time, highway security concerns have persisted.
