Panic grips Dhaka as reports of robbery, mugging, burglary spread

Since ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina left the country last Monday, Dhaka has been gripped by fear and uncertainty as the lack of police presence led to a breakdown in law and order, with reports of crimes such as robbery and snatching emerging, though these incidents were more rumour than fact.

Over the last two days, social media has been inundated with "reports" of robberies in multiple Dhaka neighbourhoods, including Uttara, Mirpur, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur, sparking widespread panic among residents. 

In response, mosque loudspeakers began issuing warnings to residents late at night. Locals formed vigilante groups to ensure safety and apprehend the alleged robbers.

Locals apprehended several individuals, carrying firearms and locally made weapons, from ECB Chattar, Uttara and Mirpur 11 areas yesterday and subsequently handed them over to the army.

However, there were no reports of robbery or mugging in Gulshan, Uttar Badda, Shahjadpur, Natun Bazar, Baridhara, Narda, and Bashundhara areas – primarily residential and equipped with community security guards and local security measures.

Mayhem at ECB Chattar

A dispute erupted between two developer companies over the possession of vacant land near ECB Chattar around Wednesday midnight. This confrontation escalated into a shooting between the two parties. 

Locals, fearing a robbery, took to the streets armed with sticks. Meanwhile, the army arrived to manage the situation.

"There were about 150-200 people involved in the land dispute; they scattered to evade capture and fled into various areas. However, two were apprehended, beaten, and handed over to the army," said Md Imran, a resident of Manikdi Namapara area near the ECB Chattar.

"Announcements from nearby mosques, initially made under the assumption that it was a robbery, quickly spread throughout the area, causing widespread panic," he told TBS.

Another resident Miraj Hasan said, "We heard reports of robbers arriving and immediately came outside. We also heard gunshots but did not see any robbers. Later, the army came and arrested some individuals."

Most people heard about robbers, but none saw them

TBS could not locate any eyewitnesses at the sites where robbery reports had emerged in Dhaka, and no specific houses were confirmed to have been robbed.

Different accounts emerged from the same area: some said they learned about the robbery incidents through Facebook, while others heard announcements from mosque loudspeakers.

Mohammad Mofiz Uddin, a resident of Matuail, said, "We heard about robbers coming to the area yesterday, but I neither saw nor heard any evidence of their presence."

Catherine Elora, a resident of Mirpur 11, said, "From 2:30 am to 3:30 am, there were multiple announcements about robbery by mosques. We stayed up all night, and someone from our building saw 8-10 people running away on the street."

Anik, a resident of Uttara 11, noted, "We also heard announcements and came outside, but we did not see any robbers. I heard that some people were caught on Road 20, but we were unsure about that."

Residents on Road No 20 in Uttara 11 said there were no robberies or arrests that occurred there. However, they mentioned a supposed robbery on Road No 9. 

A visit to Road No 9 revealed no evidence of a robbery. Additionally, while there were reports of robberies in the Azimpur kitchen market, no concrete information was found upon the visit.

Locals patrol the street at night in Lalmatia of the capital. Photo: Collected

Many robbery suspects detained

Rickshaw driver Mokarram Hossain, a resident of Dhaka Udyan, said, "We have been awake all night for the past two days. Last night, we arrested two suspects on Nabinagar Road No 7. They were found with two large knives and admitted they were out to rob. We later handed them over to the army."

Mizan, the manager of Navodaya Housing Society in Mohammadpur, said, "In response to the robbery scare last night, we secured the area with about 100 people, including local students. Although nothing significant happened, the students did apprehend a suspect from the Shia Mosque area and handed him over to the army."

However, locals confirmed the robbery at a house in Navodaya Housing on Tuesday.

Mohammad Ekram, a resident of Mirpur 12B Block, said, "During the night, we chased away a group of about 50 people suspected of robbery. They were carrying choppers. Later, four of them were detained and handed over to the army."

Additionally, four people were arrested in Uttara.

Locals staying guard on a street in Jafrabad area at around 3:00am in Dhaka on 8 August. Photo: TBS

Snatching incidents surge amid police absence

Sumon Howladar, an employee at a private company, told TBS that on Wednesday evening, 5-6 youths stopped his rickshaw in the Rayer Bazar area and snatched his wallet and mobile phone.

Mubarak Hossain, a resident of Mohammadpur Basila, said an attempted robbery occurred at West Dhanmondi Housing in Basila, but the perpetrators fled due to local residents' resistance.

On Tuesday, the home of Haji Jamal, the general secretary of the local mosque committee and an Awami League leader, was looted in the Shyamoli housing area near Navodaya Housing in Mohammadpur.

That same night, three separate snatchings were reported in Shewrapara, Mirpur.