Despite a nationwide crackdown and hundreds of arrests, robbery gangs continue to terrorise Dhaka residents, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing crime-control measures.
Armed snatching, motorcycle-based robberies and attacks on pedestrians and rickshaw passengers continue to be reported across the capital, with criminals particularly active during early mornings and at night. People arriving in Dhaka from different parts of the country have become frequent targets.
Areas including Agargaon, Uttara, Shahbagh, Tejgaon Sat Rasta, Dhanmondi and Karwan Bazar have witnessed repeated incidents. Public anxiety has intensified due to poor street lighting and frequent load-shedding in some areas, leaving many roads vulnerable.
The persistence of crime despite special operations, police patrols and checkpoint searches has raised questions about why robberies continue despite increased enforcement.
Crime experts say arrests alone cannot control organised robbery unless police strengthen intelligence networks, track repeat offenders and improve coordination among investigation agencies and courts.
Mohammad Omar Faruk, criminologist and professor at the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said economic pressure and financial hardship were among the factors behind the recent rise in robberies.
“Footage from recent incidents shows that many robbers are not traditional criminals. They appear like ordinary people and operate in organised groups, which is highly concerning,” he told TIMES.
He said reduced police visibility, weak intelligence gathering and alleged political influence over criminal groups had allowed offenders to operate with confidence.
“Field-level policing must become more neutral and effective. Criminals must be brought under the law through proper investigation and prosecution,” he said.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) data, an average of 26 robbery cases are filed every month. However, many victims allege that police record some incidents as general diaries instead of formal cases, while others avoid legal action to escape lengthy procedures.
Police Headquarters and DMP data show that a special operation against criminals has been underway since 1 May. During the first seven months of this year, 178 robbery incidents were recorded in Dhaka. From January to June, 172 cases were filed, leading to the arrest of 402 people.
DMP arrested 17,123 people for involvement in various crimes between 1 August and 29 August, including several suspects accused of snatching.
Former DMP commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sazzat Ali said the capital’s rapid population growth, overcrowded neighbourhoods and large floating population had made crime control more difficult.
“Criminals mix with the crowd and change locations after committing crimes. Many arrested suspects return to crime after securing bail quickly,” he told TIMES.
He said criminals often exploit early mornings when roads remain quiet and police shifts change.
“The police need to revise their deployment plans and adopt more intelligence-based strategies,” he added.
The latest incident to intensify public concern was the death of 55-year-old headteacher Ranjina Parveen, who fell from a rickshaw after robbers pulled her bag near the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Saturday morning.
Parveen had travelled from Bogura to Dhaka to visit a hospital in Farmgate. Robbers on a motorcycle snatched her bag, causing her to fall and suffer critical injuries. She was later declared dead at Suhrawardy Hospital.
On the same morning, a member of a robbery gang was killed in a stabbing incident among criminals while attempting to rob a pedestrian in Kadamtali’s Nama-Shyampur area.
In another incident, three robbers threatened a lawyer with a knife and snatched Tk50,000 in front of Sonali Bank in Dhanmondi 27.
On 27 August, Tk2.01 lakh was snatched at gunpoint in front of Delicious Coffee Shop on Sonargaon Janapath Road in Uttara Sector 11.
Earlier, on 9 August, criminals hacked an employee of a petrol pump in Uttara and fled with Tk1.21 crore while he was carrying the money to a bank.
On 1 May, housewife Shilpi Begum was attacked near the Election Commission office under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station while carrying money for her mother-in-law’s treatment. The attackers injured her and took Tk25,000 and two mobile phones.
On 19 March, housewife Mukta Akter died after falling from a rickshaw when a robber pulled her bag near Uttara South Metro Station.
Beyond recorded cases, residents say many incidents go unreported because victims fear harassment or believe stolen items are unlikely to be recovered.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Mohammad Osman Gani said police operations and patrols had been strengthened to control crime.
“Criminals are being arrested every day,” he said.
