Across Dhaka, fear of armed heist robs citizens of sleep at night

Neighbourhoods are on high alert while young men patrol streets with sticks late at night

In Dhaka’s New Eskaton area, vehicles without stickers are barred from entering the main gate of Gausnagar after 11pm.

Those wishing to enter must walk in after confirming their identity.

During the day, the main gates of apartment buildings remain locked at all times.

Nadida Khanom, a lawyer residing in the area, now returns home from her chambers before sunset, leaving one of her two mobile phones at home and carrying minimal cash due to safety concerns.

Nahida said, "If a robber or any other criminal attacks, we no longer have the option to seek police help. How long can this go on? Is it possible to live like this?"

Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in the massive public uprising, and the subsequent disappearance of police after numerous attacks on police stations, a pervasive sense of insecurity has gripped Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Residents are patrolling with sticks, stopping vehicles on deserted roads to question drivers, adding to the sense of fear and confusion.

It’s unclear whether those asking the questions are there to protect or to commit crimes.

As night deepens, social media is flooded with live posts claiming that “robbers have struck” in this or that area.

Residents band together to catch these “robbers. Some are caught and handed over to the army.

What happens next is unclear, as police stations, though reopening, no longer have the infrastructure to detain suspects following widespread looting and arson.

After four days of this situation, the sense of fear has somewhat eased as people have banded together for night patrols.

On Friday night, the patrols in various areas turned into a kind of 'festivity'.

Reports have emerged of night-time cricket matches, music, and khichuri feasts in different neighbourhoods.

The army and Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, have assured their presence to help alleviate public fear.

ROBBERS STRIKE WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARISE

Since the government’s fall, Mohammadpur has become one of the most affected areas in Dhaka by robbery fears.

For the past four nights, anxiety over theft and robbery has surged in the area, particularly after dark.

Mosques in the area have been using loudspeakers to warn residents nightly of the ongoing threats.

With police notably absent, locals have taken to patrolling the streets to safeguard their homes.

This effort has offered partial relief but has not entirely eased the underlying anxiety, leading to many shops closing by 10pm.

On Friday night, areas including Shia Mosque, Chan Mia Housing, Noorjahan Road, Tajmahal Road, Adabor, and Shekertek were patrolled.

Locals reported that groups of youths from nearby slums were roaming in pickups, robbing buildings whenever they had the chance.

Beauty from Adabor described how robbers, posing as ambulance personnel, tricked the gatekeeper at her home.

After locking the gate, the robbers began to enter the house but were stopped by the military following a community alert.

Arefin Tanzib, a resident of Chan Mia Housing said: "For several nights, we haven’t been able to sleep due to the fear of robbery. Alerts from the mosque’s loudspeakers make it impossible to rest.”

“However, the patrols by locals offer some relief."

Aftab Nawjash Chowdhury from Dhanmondi reported that nine robbers were captured by residents and handed over to the army on Thursday night.

These robbers, he said, are likely from nearby slum areas and may be members of the Kishore Gang, armed with sharp weapons and sticks for looting.

Mirpur-11 resident Sonia Islam has stopped using any gold jewellery and now keeps a whistle and local weapons for safety.

"For the past four nights, I haven’t slept. I keep everything close at hand to defend against robbers," she said.

Shafin Ahmed from Mirpur-10 used to walk outside at night but has stopped due to safety concerns. "The recent capture of robbers in our area showed me how unsafe we are without police presence," he said.

Golam Rabbani, a resident of Mirpur-12 described the situation as stifling. “My young child wants to go outside, but I fear for our safety. We need a solution to this problem," he said.

Pallabi resident Hayatul Islam Titu reported an attempted robbery in Kalshi and ongoing anxiety.

Student Zubair Bin Ataur from Mirpur-12 said: "We are on high alert, with six cars and some motorcycles patrolling the area. We hope there are no more attacks."

FEAR OF ROADSIDE ‘SEARCH’ AT NIGHT

Around 2:30am on Friday, several young men were walking outside the VIP Hostel in Tejgaon.

They halted a black-glassed car for inspection, with some of them carrying sticks.

However, there was no way to verify the identity of these individuals in advance, leaving vehicle owners and drivers in a state of uncertainty.

When a car did not stop at their signal, they created a commotion.

This triggered other residents, who were on alert for thieves, to also raise the alarm.

A loudspeaker at the nearby mosque then announced: “Thieves have entered the area; everyone should ensure their security and stay alert.”

Monirul Islam, who oversees security at the VIP Hostel, said: “The young men are just stopping cars to check inside. When some cars do not comply, they cause a stir. No one has seen any thieves in the area.”

BUSINESSES BOLSTER SECURITY

As security concerns grow, both residential and business premises are taking extra precautions.

Ismail Hossain, who runs a saree shop at the Mohammadia Market in Mirpur-11, is personally monitoring his store for fear of potential looting.

Hossain said: "There is always a guard here, but given the current situation, gangs of 20 to 30 people come to rob. So, we have to stay up all night with 40 to 50 people to keep watch over the market. There's nothing else we can do."

With the escalating security fears, withdrawing cash from most city automated teller machines or ATMs has become increasingly difficult.

Shamser Ali, a security guard at an ATM booth in Shyamoli, said: "The security company that used to handle cash transportation has stopped its service. There's fear of being attacked at any moment. As a result, the ATM booths haven't received any cash for three days."

Shamser said five banks have ATM booths in the area. All are coordinating and keeping watch at night, while nearby buildings also have vigilant night guards.

Niyamul Karim, a motor parts dealer in Old Dhaka’s Nawabpur, said: "Our shop is almost closed, but we have to stay alert at night. My store contains only expensive machine belts and bearings. Even if a single sack of belts is stolen, it results in a huge loss. Hence, we are all on guard ourselves."

ARMY, BGB DEPLOYED; POLICE AMISS

Despite the presence of the army and BGB personnel to prevent robberies, the absence of police is hindering the arrest of criminals.

The army detains robbers, confiscates their weapons, and then releases them because there are no facilities to file cases due to the lack of police stations and judicial processes.

Following the Awami League government’s fall on Aug 5, many police stations were attacked, looted, and set on fire.

As a result, crucial documents and vehicles have been destroyed, and many stations have lost their iron bars, making it impossible to detain suspects.

At Tejgaon Police Station on Saturday, an inspector said: “The army handed over two robbers to us. We have them in custody, but without resources and transportation, we cannot send them to court. There are no court proceedings taking place.”

Adabor resident Moudud Hossain said: “The army's presence is reassuring in the absence of police, but we are still anxious when they leave. We need the police to resume their duties swiftly and are prepared to support them with logistics if necessary.”

On Aug 8, the ad-hoc office of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus issued an alert, urging the formation of local committees to use mosque loudspeakers from 8pm to midnight to raise awareness and prevent planned sabotage and robbery.

The alert warned that a group, instigated by self-serving and terrorist elements, is creating chaos in the country and urged locals to ensure their safety.

On Aug 7, army chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman said: “The vast force of the police being inactive cannot be fully replaced by the army, air force, or navy. We have mobilised Ansar, the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, and students, with all military forces actively involved. The incidents have since reduced.”

On Saturday, the Police Headquarters issued a statement directing all district police superintendents and police station chiefs to form citizen security committees. These committees, along with law enforcement personnel, will conduct joint patrols to combat violence, theft, robbery, and snatching, aiming to restore law and order across the country.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BONDS

The atmosphere has taken on a unique charm as young people take to the streets to provide security.

Nazvi Islam, a part-time teacher at Dhaka University and a resident of the Basila area, said: "Before, people in Dhaka didn't know their neighbours, but now, through this opportunity to guard the area, we have got to know everyone in our building and even those in neighbouring buildings. These relationships will be valuable for future community development."

In Dhanmondi’s Shankar, residents were cooking Khichuri (a turmeric-spiced hodgepodge of rice and lentils, sometimes with vegetables) on the streets at night, while some young people were enjoying a game of cricket nearby.

Rezaul Karim Reza, a local, said: “We, the people of West Dhanmondi and Shankar, are coming together to spend time and share meals while keeping watch. We will continue to patrol our area each night until things return to normal.”

In a Mohammadpur lane, a projector was set up for a gathering, with someone singing on a speaker and young people playing cricket nearby.

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi and Fariha Bristy]