22 Robberies in One Month on Three Roads in Gazipur

Local Correspondent

An atmosphere of terror prevails on the Baroibari-Bhawal-Mirzapur regional road in Gazipur after dusk. About one and a half to two kilometers of this road near Haturchala is flanked by dense forests. Robber gangs take position there at night, waiting to ambush passersby. At gunpoint, they take hostages and loot everything.

Transport workers and passengers are living in fear due to the series of robberies on these three regional roads over the past two months.

According to victims and police, at least 20 to 22 robberies and muggings have occurred on these three roads in the last month alone.

Police and victims report that since August 5 last year, multiple incidents of attacks and stabbings have targeted drivers and auto-rickshaw passengers on these roads. Robbers loot their money and valuables. Every day, robberies occur at isolated spots along these three roads—some victims are stabbed, others tied up and left in the jungle while everything is stolen.

The most affected routes include the Baroibari-Bhawal-Mirzapur regional road, the Chandra-Sahebabad road via Kalampur Char Rasta, and the Kaliakair-Sinabah regional road.

On the night of March 20, soil trader Md. Sajib Hossain and another person were ambushed by robbers while heading toward Haturchala village. Around 10-15 armed men attacked them. While one man, Royal Hossain, managed to escape, Sajib was stabbed to death.

Villagers from Haturchala caught and handed over two suspects to the police. The arrested individuals—Sohail Rana from Hatgari village in Sherpur, Bogura, and Mizanur Rahman from Maheshpur village in Birampur, Dinajpur—reportedly worked at garment factories during the day but were involved in robberies at night, according to locals and police.

Allegations of law enforcement inaction have surfaced due to these repeated crimes.

On the same night (March 20), Alam Hossain was injured in a robbery attempt. He said, “I was returning home to Haturchala village from Jamalpur Bazar around 8 PM when 10-12 men blocked my way. Recognizing me, they attacked me with a tree-cutting saw. I barely escaped with my life.”

Shahadat Hossain from Doanichala village confirmed that 20-22 robberies and muggings have occurred in the past month. He blamed the lack of police patrols and the dense Garjan forest along the road, which provides cover for criminals.

A few days ago, a mass robbery took place on the isolated stretches of the Sahebabad and Sinabah roads. Victims were tied up, robbed of cash and mobile phones, and beaten. On March 18, robbers tied up an auto-rickshaw driver and stole his vehicle.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md. Afzal Hossain of Sreepur and Kaliakair Circle acknowledged the rise in robberies ahead of Eid and said police are actively pursuing criminals. Several suspects have already been sent to court, and night patrols have been increased in vulnerable areas.

However, he admitted that robberies and muggings on these three roads have recently surged.