At least 50 mobile phones were stolen from audience members during the filming of the television show ‘Ittadi’ in Narsingdi on Wednesday evening.
The incident took place at the Birshrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Library and Memorial Museum on Ramnagar High School grounds in Raipura upazila.
Victims alleged mismanagement by the organisers, saying even valid pass holders, including women and children, faced heavy pushing and shoving to enter.
Although seating arrangement was made for 3,000 people, thousands more reportedly entered the venue by scaling walls and bypassing police barricades, creating chaos at the entrance. During the disorder, a theft ring allegedly targeted the crowd and stole nearly 100 mobile phones, including those of at least seven journalists.
Journalists from Independent Television, Deepto TV, Evening News, Dainik Amar Desh, Bhorer Dak, and Protidiner Sangbad were among the victims. Several people were also injured in the scuffle, and hundreds of pass holders left in protest.
Independent Television and BDNews24 district correspondent Asaduzzaman Ripon said he discovered his phone missing shortly after entering and alerted police at the gate. Within an hour, about 40–50 others, including six journalists and a district administration employee, also reported phone thefts.
Narsingdi Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al-Farooq said thousands of spectators attended from inside and outside the district, adding that “perhaps many thieves also came.”
He said efforts would be made to recover the phones if formal complaints are filed.
