Mugging surges in Dhaka; police set to initiate special drive 

Highlights

• 36 mugging incidents reported in Dhaka in last 45 days
• 4 killed in muggings in Dhaka, N'ganj in 7 days 
• Police recorded 35 mugging cases from 1 Nov-10 Dec
• Experts cite law enforcement inefficiency

Writer Moinul Ahsan Saber narrowly escaped a mugging in Dhaka today. He shared his experience on social media, describing how a young man stopped him outside a bank on Dhanmondi 27 and asked questions while two others approached.

Sensing danger, the middle-aged man quickly walked away without engaging with them. While Saber managed to escape safely, many others have not been so fortunate.

On 18 December, Hafeez Kamrul Hasan was attacked by muggers while on his way to Sajek with friends. Near Hanif Flyover, he was stabbed in the stomach and robbed of his mobile phone and Tk7,000. He later died from his injuries at a hospital.

Over the past month and a half, at least 36 mugging incidents have been reported across Dhaka. 

In the last week alone, four people have been killed and many more injured in similar attacks in Dhaka and Narayanganj. 

Police and experts attribute the surge in these crimes to rising prices of commodities and lax law enforcement.

A viral video circulating on social media shows three youths wielding machetes near Asad Gate in the capital during traffic congestion, snatching a mobile phone from a private car. 

Another video from 18 December, shared by Junaid Chowdhury, shows a similar incident in the same area.

According to police data and court sources, 35 mugging cases were filed from 1 November to 10 December across 50 police stations in Dhaka. 

In total, seven people have been killed in muggings between 5 August and 18 December. 

The most recent incident occurred on 18 December, when Kamrul Hasan was fatally attacked near Mayor Hanif Flyover. 

On 15 December, Habib Ullah, a young man, was also killed in a mugging in Moghbazar.

Police data shows 65 mugging cases were filed across various police stations between August and November, slightly fewer than the 67 cases reported during the same period last year. 

Former IGP Nur Mohammad told TBS that crime has risen compared to previous years, saying, "Not all crimes are properly recorded by the police, particularly since law enforcement was not fully operational in August. The increase in crime can be attributed to both the economic situation and the inefficiency of law enforcement."

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner (Crime) Faruk Hossain told The Business Standard that police officers in various divisions would be instructed to intensify their efforts to combat crime. 

He said a special operation would begin by the end of the month to restore law and order.

Extortions also on the rise 

In addition to muggings, extortion cases have also risen. 

A recent video on social media showed a group of young men vandalising the office of Popular Life Insurance. It was later revealed that this was an extortion attempt by activists of the Jubo Dal, who had not received the money they demanded.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Popular Life Insurance Company over mobile phone call for comment on this matter, the company did not receive any call.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Professor Omar Faruk of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University said, "Crime is thriving due to rising commodity prices and the inability of law enforcement to regain control." 

He identified two main factors driving the increase in muggings: the surge in prices, which has pushed many people into criminal activities, and the law enforcement agencies' failure to fully regain their effectiveness after August.