Robbery on buses: Highway police cite 'unemployment' as cause; others say 'planned'
Sohrab Hossain, chairman of Savar Paribahan, said, “I have repeatedly informed the authorities that there is an active gang... I filed a General Diary (GD) at the police station, and it was not given any importance.”
Highlights:
- Highway police blame extortionists from AL regime for bus robberies
- Dhaka District Police allege planned attacks linked to AL figures
- Transport insiders blame police inaction despite repeated complaints
- At least six bus robberies since October on Dhaka-Aricha Highway
The highway police have attributed the recent spate of robberies on moving buses in Savar to the sudden "unemployment" of extortionists who previously operated in public spaces during the tenure of the former Awami League government.
In contrast, Dhaka District Police suspects the incidents may be part of a larger plan.
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Speaking to The Business Standard, Gazipur Highway Police Superintendent (SP) AKM Akhtaruzzaman Bosunia said the individuals behind the robberies are "a crime-prone section of the population" who lost their illegal sources of income—such as extorting from footpaths, intersections and bus stands—after 5 August.
"They are not politicians. Many of them grew up on footpaths and were involved in minor committees or informal groups. Now, without any source of income, they are engaging in snatching and robbery as a means of daily survival," he said.
"I have repeatedly informed the authorities that there is an active gang... I filed a General Diary (GD) at the police station, and it was not given any importance"
He added, "They just get on the buses, take one or two mobile phones and some cash, and get off. Their needs are minimal, and they act quickly."
Dhaka District Police, however, sees the situation differently.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Md Shahinur Kabir said, "This is not a failure of the police. These are planned activities intended to create unrest and stir public anxiety."
When asked who might be behind the plan, he claimed, "Individuals linked to the previous Awami League government, who are now hiding in India, are funding these operations. We have information on this."
Despite differing views from law enforcement, those involved in the transport sector blame police inaction.
Sohrab Hossain, chairman of Savar Paribahan, said, "I have repeatedly informed the authorities that there is an active gang. I even informed the army, but no action has been taken. I filed a General Diary (GD) at the police station, and it was not given any importance."
"In the last six months, at least four or five of our buses have been robbed. We are the ones who suffer—our vehicles are vandalised, and our drivers and helpers are blamed. Despite repeated complaints, the incidents continue in the same areas," he added.
On police initiatives, SP Bosunia said the Inspector General of Police had assigned 700 officers to the Highway Police to combat snatching and robbery. In the Gazipur region alone, 51 patrol teams have been deployed across six highways.
"Our officers are now boarding local buses with cameras to record footage and identify suspects. We also have members in plain clothes travelling as passengers. In addition, we are operating checkpoints jointly with the district police," he said.
He acknowledged, however, that covering every stretch of the highway is difficult. "These criminals often board at a point and get off after 100–200 metres. They do not travel long distances, which makes detection harder."
He also said that in some cases, drivers and helpers may be complicit. "We have noticed buses stopping at unauthorised places to pick up individuals who later carry out these crimes."
Md Shahinur Kabir of Dhaka District Police said additional police forces have been assigned to check buses.
"If any oversight occurs and a robbery takes place, we will take action against the responsible officer," he said.
"In the last two months, there have been three such incidents in our area. We have solved two of them, arrested five people and recovered some of the stolen money," he added.
He said no formal complaints or victim statements have yet been received regarding some of the recent incidents being discussed. "Still, if we verify their authenticity, we will act accordingly."
Since October, at least six incidents of robbery have taken place on moving buses along the Dhaka-Aricha highway. In at least two of these cases, passengers were reportedly stabbed by the assailants.
In the latest incidents, unidentified individuals hijacked two moving buses and robbed passengers of gold ornaments at knifepoint within a span of 30 minutes today (11 April).
Similar cases were reported on 4 April and 25 March near the Bank Town Bridge and Radio Colony areas, where armed men looted valuables in broad daylight.
The first of these incidents this year occurred on 2 March, also near the Bank Town Bridge—despite the presence of a police checkpost in the area.
