Man killed as turf war resumes in Geneva Camp

Police say the conflicts reignited since drug dealers were released on bail

A man has died amid a drug trade conflict at Geneva Camp, a camp for “stranded Pakistanis” in the capital’s Mohammadpur.

Two gangs clashed with sticks and local weapons in Sector 7 of the camp on Monday afternoon.

A man named Shah Alam was killed after being struck with a sharp weapon, said Mohammadpur Zone Assistant Commissioner of Police Mehedi Hasan.

He added that a man named Faisal was detained with a machete in connection with the killing.

A schoolteacher living in the camp said the gangs chased each other, hurling bricks at each other from the early hours of Monday until morning. He also heard the sound of crude bombs exploding.

The teacher said a woman was injured in a crude bomb blast on Sunday night.

“When police and the Army come, things calm down. But once they leave, the drug dealers resume their clashes,” he said.

Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibne Mizan said the violence stems from a rivalry between drug dealers known as Pichchi Raja and Buniya Sohel.

“They have long been at odds over the drug trade. Both were arrested but recently released on bail,” he told bdnews24.com.

“We are trying to bring the situation under control. Things are calm now,” Mizan added.

According to residents, the camp’s drug trade was once controlled by two men, Nadim Hossain, known as Pachchish, and Ishtiaq.

Both amassed wealth through the narcotics trade and maintained their own armed groups.

In July 2018, Pachchish was killed in a “crossfire” with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Purbachal.

Ishtiaq fled to India, where he died of COVID-19 according to locals.

Their absence, Buniya Sohel and Chua Selim became desperate to take control of the camp.

Sohel later allied himself with another gang led by Babu, alias Saidpuira Babu, a Bihari from Saidpur in Nilphamari.

Following the July Uprising, Geneva Camp frequently made headlines for violent turf wars.

On Sept 29, RAB had announced the arrest of 31 people, including Pichchi Raja.

Later, on Oct 31, RAB arrested Sohel along with 12 others in Sylhet and Habiganj. Selim was also arrested two months later.

Raja, who has allied with Selim, and Sohel, both have been released on bail, triggering the conflict.

Residents say the camp is divided into zones controlled by different drug dealers.

Most of Sohel’s men operate from Sector 7. Saidpuyra Babu’s group controls NLJ School Road, while Selim’s area is AB Block Pakka Camp.

Recently, Raja and Imtiaz began selling drugs in Humayun Road, Sector 7. This was a long-time stronghold of Sohel.

While Raja once worked with Sohel, residents say he has now joined hands with Selim. Imtiaz is an old friend of Selim.

The dispute over Sector 7 has fuelled days of clashes and unrest.

On Thursday night, three crude bombs exploded outside a wedding venue near Selim’s base in Pakka Camp, injuring two people.

Locals claim Buniya Sohel himself arrived on a motorbike and set off the bombs before leaving.

Since then, multiple crude bomb explosions have been reported across the camp.

Residents heard blasts again on Sunday afternoon, and several more were reported in different areas from early Monday until the afternoon.