Deadly clashes erupt over control of drug empire in Geneva Camp

Residents face a daily struggle as the shadow of violence looms over their sense of security

Jashim, a ‘Bihari worker’ from a salon in Dhaka’s Agargaon, lives in Mohammadpur’s Geneva Camp, also known as the Bihari Camp.

Recently, the man who identified himself with a single name, has been arriving late for work.

He said, “There is fighting and gunfire all night. I cannot sleep. I don't know how I manage to stay awake during the day."

The conflict over drug trade control in Geneva Camp has been ongoing for years, but it has intensified into fatal clashes between two factions since July.

Daily incidents of attacks, processions with sticks and batons and gunfire have become routine.

The size of each room in Geneva Camp ranges from 100 to 120 square feet, with some even larger.

In many rooms, three generations live together, with people sleeping on or under beds in a cramped environment.

The lack of clean water and sanitation facilities further worsens the conditions.

Amidst this, the drug dealers’ conflict has turned life into a nightmare.

Residents said three main factions control the drug trade in the camp, which have split into two groups and are clashing.

They also divide the area among themselves. Whenever members of one group enter the territory of another, attacks occur, leading to ongoing conflicts.

This has been happening for the past six months.

The situation has become more lethal with the influx of looted weapons.

Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on Aug 5, many firearms looted from police and security forces have entered Geneva Camp, according to locals.

One resident said, “Whenever there is a fight now, they come out with big guns. Two people have been killed by gunfire and several others are in the hospital with gunshot wounds.”

Locals said after the fall of the Awami League government, some youths from the Geneva Camp were at the forefront of looting at Ganabhaban, as well as in Mohammadpur and Adabar police stations.

They have reportedly seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition from these locations and brought them to the camp.

Recent conflicts have involved the use of these weapons.

Gunfire killed 30-year-old Saddam Hossain Sonu during a clash between the two factions in Geneva Camp on Wednesday morning.

On Aug 6, another individual named Shahen Shah was also killed by gunfire.

However, the situation did not attract much attention amidst the political turmoil.

CONFLICTS ONGOING FOR HALF A DECADE

In a motorcycle mechanic’s shop adjacent to the camp, several people shared insights into the history of the drug empire in Geneva Camp.

According to locals, several years ago, the entire drug trade in the camp was controlled by two young men, Nadim Hossain, known as Panchish and Ishtiaq.

Both had amassed significant wealth through drug trafficking and maintained personal armed forces.

Because of their generous donations, Panchish and Ishtiaq were well-known and even admired in the camp.

This made it easier for them to operate covertly within the camp.

Nadim's nickname 'Panchish' dates back to his early years.

After losing his parents, Nadim worked in a local hotel, earning Tk 25 taka per day.

At that time, he sold a packet of cannabis for the same amount.

This led locals to call him ‘Panchish,’ a name he eventually adopted.

In July 2018, Panchish was killed in a Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, 'crossfire' in Purbachal, and Ishtiaq fled to India.

Rumours suggest that Ishtiaq later died from COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Residents said videos of Ishtiaq's death, funeral and burial had spread in the camp at that time.

Since then, competition for control of Ishtiaq and Panchish's drug empire has begun, resulting in a bloody conflict.

Drug transactions in the camp amount to over Tk 1 billion annually, according to locals.

An elderly driver familiar with the network said, “The history of drug dealing in this camp is quite old. In the 70s and 80s, cannabis was sold, later followed by phensedyl. Youngsters from nearby schools and colleges used to come to buy it.”

“Heroin was also sold in the past, but for the last decade, the market has been dominated by yaba. Panchish and Ishtiaq used to sell goods worth several millions of takas daily.

“Drug dealers from Dhaka and other areas would come to buy wholesale yaba from them. There were also spots for retail sales.”

The driver continued, “Several groups have fought to take over Panchish and Ishtiaq's empire. This has led to constant unrest in the camp over the past three years. It is like a battlefield now.”

He added, “It is like those Hindi movies, group fights all the time. If someone from one side is alone, the other side’s people attack them. Then the other side retaliates with weapons. We constantly live in fear, uncertain about the next attack or house raid. Everyone is in panic.”

RICKSHAW PULLER, SCHOOL TEACHER—WHO IS NOT A VICTIM

Babul Mia, the father of gunfire-killed rickshaw puller Sonu last Wednesday, spoke on Saturday while strolling with his four-year-old grandson in Mohammadpur.

Babul said, "My son was targeted. He was against drugs."

Sonu was a rickshaw puller and occasionally did embroidery work.

Babul Mia said, “There was fighting and shooting from early in the morning. Sonu and Shah Alam had just stepped out of the house when the shooting occurred. Sonu died and Shah Alam is in the hospital.”

When asked who was fighting, he said: “It is the same group from G Block: Buniya, Sohel, Rana, Tuntun, and Kalo. They were clashing with those who won’t let them sell heroin.”

He added, “That [Wednesday] morning, he had to go out with the rickshaw because of an instalment payment. That is why he went out and that is when they shot him.”

Sonu's brother, Ramjan, has filed a case at Mohammadpur Police Station, naming 10 suspects and 25-30 unnamed individuals.

Among those named are Sohel, Tuntun (Sohel's brother), Kalim Jambu, Babu, Erfan, Amin, Rana, Naushad, Arif and Arif’s mother Seema.

The case dossier said Sonu was murdered for speaking out against drug trade. He was hit with 12 bullets in his chest and two in his elbow.

A video of the clash is circulating among the camp's residents.

It shows a person in shorts carrying a large gun, followed shortly by the opposing side firing from a smaller weapon.

The armed individual in shorts is identified as Kalim, is said to be one of the suspects in the case.

Residents believe the weapon is among those looted from police.

However, two officers from Mohammadpur Police Station, after viewing the video, said such weapons are not used by police.

They identified it as a 'shotgun with a butt'.

Gunfire killed Sonu at 8am on Wednesday, and clashes and shootouts persisted throughout the day.

On Tuesday, around 10:15am, school teacher Azgar Sani was hacked and injured by Sohel, Tejamul, and others.

Locals refer to Tejamul as 'Acid' but his real name is still unknown.

Sani, a mathematics teacher at the Non-Local Junior High School, or NLJ, in Geneva Camp, said the attack was triggered by accusations that his nephew, Shakil was part of a rival group.

He was attacked by Sohel and others while returning home after the school’s first shift on Sept 3.

Sani described how Sohel and others blocked his path in front of Al-Falah Medicom Clinic in Sector 7 and began attacking him with sticks and batons, knives, and other weapons.

Despite his attempts to explain that he was not involved in any conflict and worked as a teacher, he was assaulted.

He sustained severe injuries to his shoulders, arms, and legs, receiving 27 stitches at the hospital.

Sani said the conflict has been ongoing for about six months between local groups and Sohel’s faction. Many have been injured in the violence.

He could not confirm whether the people from his area were members of any gang but mentioned that his nephew Sakil worked with RAB and police.

THE TWO RIVAL FACTIONS

In the absence of Panchish and Ishtiaq, two factions are vying for control over the camp’s lucrative drug trade.

One faction is led by Sohel, while the other is led by Chua Selim. Sohel's group has allied with Syedpur's Babu, also known as Syedpuria Babu, from the "Bihari" community in Nilphamari.

Selim, who was wounded by the opposition's gunfire during Wednesday's clash, is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

Local said Sonu, who was killed that day, was affiliated with Selim's side.

Since Wednesday, Sohel's dominance over the camp has reportedly increased.

The ongoing violence between Sohel and Selim’s factions has divided the camp’s 50,000 residents.

These groups have delineated their territories, and crossing into the opponent's area often results in violence.

Frequent minor clashes occur between these rival factions.

A resident of the camp, who is an officer at a private company, said several individuals from the camp, including Mochua Sayeed, Noor Islam Charku, Iqbal, and Harun Khan, managed to 'manipulate' police and local authorities on behalf of drug dealers due to their connections with Awami League MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak and his assistant Biplob.

They had also paid Councillor Syed Hasan Nur Islam Rastan to keep him on their side.

These individuals posted photos with Nanak from various events on Facebook, signalling their connections.

While police occasionally apprehend a few people from the camp, these individuals manage to secure their release through negotiations.

They even publicised the names of officers they had bribed.

The camp's residents are well-acquainted with the names of police officials.

When the student protests began, about 80 individuals from the camp responded to a call from a police inspector to suppress the movement.

On Aug 4, camp residents fought against the students with sticks and batons and firearms.

Jamil, the uncle of Shahen Shah, who was killed in a drug-related clash on Aug 6, said: “Our MP was Nanak, and our councillor was Rastran. The boys from their side, along with our camp’s boys, were shooting here. That is why my nephew got hit and died.”

A supporter of Selim’s faction said, “On that day, they [Bunia Sohel's group] shot Sonu indiscriminately. Chua Selim himself was also injured in the shooting. Selim, Shah Alam, Chor Janu, Shuvo, and Pattu are still receiving treatment in the hospital.”

Sohel and his associates predominantly reside in Sector 7 of the camp, their territory.

Bunia Sohel’s drug trading spot is located in the G Block near Al-Falah Clinic.

The Syedpuria group operates around the NLJ School Road, their drug trading hub.

Selim's area is the AB Block of the Pakka (Paka) Camp.

Attempts to reach Sohel, Babu, and Selim for comment were unsuccessful.

Sohel’s phone numbers were found to be disconnected and Selim's group members said he is unable to use his phone due to his injuries.

The exact location of his hospital has not been disclosed.

LOCALS BLAME CAMP LEADERS FOR FUELING DRUG TRADE

Residents of the Geneva Camp are also blaming local leaders for the growing drug trade.

The family of SK Golam Jilani, chairman of the Non-Local Relief Committee, or NLRC, is being accused of supporting drug dealers.

Locals said Jilani’s son, SK Rabbani, along with other relatives, are working with Sohel’s group.

However, Jilani said after being attacked by camp residents a month ago, he no longer goes there and has no knowledge of what is happening in the area.

Jilani has been the chairman of NLRC, one of the two major organisations representing stranded Pakistanis in Geneva Camp, for nearly 16 years.

Despite the district commissioner of Dhaka approving the committee for only two-year terms, Jilani has held onto his position for an extended period, making him a prominent figure in the camp.

When asked about the involvement of his son Rabbani and other relatives with Sohel's group, Jilani dismissed the claims, calling them ‘false and driven by jealousy’.

The largest organisation representing stranded Pakistanis is the Stranded Pakistanis General Rehabilitation Committee, or SPGRC.

SPGRC President M Shawkat Ali said, "These conflicts are happening over drug spots. People are dying. There are three groups involved in drug dealing, and the clashes are happening between them. The public knows everything, but they are held hostage. While they fight, people's homes, shops, and properties are being destroyed.

He continued, "We have informed the police, RAB, and the army—everyone. But given the current state of the country, no one is coming. We need to be rescued from this. We are hopeful that the army will arrive in a day or two to save us from this situation."

When asked if the entire camp is under the control of drug dealers, Shawkat said: "Not the entire camp, but their syndicate is very powerful. They recruit children and unemployed youths, paying them two to three hundred takas to sell drugs."

He said educated residents in the camp avoid getting involved in drug-related activities, and no one speaks about them because of fear.

He confirmed that the names frequently mentioned in the camp—Bunia Sohel, Chua Selim, and Syedpura Babu—are connected to the three drug groups.

When asked about the weapons looted after the fall of the Hasina government entering the camp, the SPGRC president said he had heard similar reports.

Iftekhar Hasan, chief of Mohammadpur Police Station, said there is an ongoing conflict among several groups in the camp, which led to the death of autorickshaw driver Sonu.

Police are attempting to apprehend the suspects involved in Sonu's murder.

Mohammad Ruhul Kabir Khan, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told bdnews24.com that drug-related issues in the Geneva Camp have been a long-standing concern and a murder was recently reported.

He added, "We are fully aware of the situation and have a special plan in place. Police are giving top priority to eradicating drugs, identifying criminals, arresting them and recovering weapons."

[Writing in English by Sheikh Fariha Bristy]