Insecurity persists despite govt assurances as crime wave continues

Highlights 

• Promised security measures fail to alleviate public concerns amid ongoing crimes
• Multiple robberies on Ghatail-Sagardighi road target school buses, other vehicles
• A trader was killed by a teen gang over alleged drug disputes
• Two suspected muggers were beaten, hung upside down by a mob in Uttara
• A man accused of theft was beaten to death by a crowd in Tongi
• Authorities urge public to avoid vigilantism, support law enforcement

Despite repeated assurances from top law enforcement officials and government representatives, a growing sense of insecurity continues to grip the nation as reports of crime and mob violence surge across the country.

Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury held an emergency press conference at 3am on Sunday after a viral video of a gold trader's mugging in Dhaka's Banasree triggered public outrage and demands for his resignation. 

Blaming the fallen Awami League for the deteriorating law and order, he assured increased patrolling. Later, in a law and order meeting, key measures were decided, including more checkposts, enhanced patrols, and joint operations involving the army,  police and RAB.

Speaking to reporters, he promised visible action starting that evening, while top officials, including the army chief, IGP, and press secretary, also pledged stronger security measures. 

Gold trader shot, stabbed in Banasree, muggers make off with 200 bhoris gold, Tk1 lakh

However, these commitments have done little to allay public fears, as the latest incidents cast doubt on the effectiveness of the measures.

In the early hours today, a gang of robbers ambushed four school buses on an educational trip along the Ghatail-Sagardighi road in Tangail's Ghatail upazila. The incident occurred at Lakshoner Badha, where the criminals looted cash and mobile phones from teachers and students.

"The robbers blocked the Ghatail-Sagardighi road with logs and stopped four school buses. I have visited the scene, but no formal complaint has been lodged," said Rakibul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ghatail police station.

Woman mugged, stabbed to death in Keraniganj

Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, headmaster of the affected school, said, "The buses were moving at high speed when suddenly a gang of 10-12 robbers placed tree trunks on the road, forcing the vehicles to stop. They brandished local weapons and looted Tk1.5 lakh, around 12 mobile phones, and other valuables before fleeing."

This robbery is one of three reported on the same road within the past ten days, sparking fear among locals. Residents blame the lack of police patrols for the recurring crimes, reports UNB.

"Robberies often take place at this location (Lakshoner Badha). Another robbery happened here on 19 February," said local Union Parishad member Liakat Hossain.

2 suspected muggers beaten, hung upside down from overbridge by angry crowd in Uttara

Earlier, on 15 February at around 1:30am, another robbery took place at Fakirchala in Sandhanpur Union along the same road. Robbers targeted 10 trucks, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, and motorcycles, stealing cash and smartphones from drivers.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a trader was hacked to death in Ashulia, allegedly by members of a teen gang over reported drug peddling disputes. The victim, Momin Islam, 32, was a resident of Dakshin Bypile and ran a gas cylinder business.

Momin's family alleged that Rubel, a local teen gang leader, had been pressuring Momin to join him in drug peddling, but Momin consistently rejected the offer. 

Enraged by this, around 30 members of Rubel's gang armed with sharp weapons attacked Momin, who was on his way to the shop in the Dakshin Bypile area yesterday morning. The attack resulted in Momin's death on the spot.

Inspector (Investigation) Kamal Hossain of Ashulia police station confirmed the incident. "We recovered the body and sent it to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy. We have detained six suspects and are conducting raids to arrest the others," he said.

Mob violence another concern 

Adding to the growing unrest, incidents of mob justice have also been reported. On Monday evening, two men suspected of mugging were beaten and hung upside down from a foot overbridge in Uttara by an angry crowd.

"The two men were allegedly caught red-handed by a group of people and beaten," said Uttara East police station OC Shamim Ahmed.

"The agitated crowd then hung both of them from the roof of the overbridge."

Police intervened after receiving reports of the incident. "We rescued the duo and sent them to a nearby hospital. Both were in critical condition," added OC Shamim.

The victims have been identified as Bokul, 40, and Nazim, 35. Videos of the attack have gone viral, showing the crowd tying one of the suspected muggers upside down while continuing to beat him.

Later that night, in another incident of mob violence, a 22-year-old man was killed in Tongi after being accused of attempting to steal a mobile phone. The identity of the youth could not be known yet.

Police said locals caught the youth near Station Road around 9 pm and took him to Machhimpur Balur Math. During interrogation, the mob beat him severely, leaving him dead on the spot.

Tongi Purbo police station OC Faridul Islam said being informed they recovered the body and sent it to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. "An unnatural death case has been filed, but no arrests have been made so far," OC Faridul added.

In response to the rising incidents of vigilantism, the home adviser urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

"I urge people not to take law into their own hands and police to become more active," he told reporters today.

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali called on Dhaka residents to help combat crime by handing over criminals to law enforcement instead of resorting to violence.

Jubo Dal leader killed Sherpur

A upazila-level Jubo Dal leader was killed and his two associates were injured in an attack allegedly by rivals over establishing supremacy in Sherpur Sadar upazila on Tuesday night.

The deceased Jakaria Badal, 47, was joint convenor of the Sadar upazila unit of the Jubo Dal and former assistant general secretary of the Sherpur Government College Students' Union. He was a resident of Kamaria union of the upazila.

One of the injured Sohag Mia is undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital while the rest, Ruhul, 32, is at Sherpur Sadar Hospital.