Law enforcers estimate that around 173 juvenile gangs are currently active in the capital. The number fluctuates depending on the anti-gang drive by the law enforcers. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 57 suspected members of teen gangs from Dhaka and Savar areas on February 16.
Of them, the RAB-2 arrested 36 teen gang members from Mohammadpur, Adabar and Hazaribagh areas in the capital on Friday, said RAB-2 Commanding Officer Additional DIG Md Anwar Hossain.
Since then, RAB has arrested a total of 1,126 teen gang members in the last six years. Of them, 349 were arrested last year across the country, according to RAB.
Teen gangs in the capital first made headlines in 2017, after a 14-year-old student, Adnan Kabir, was beaten to death in Uttara. According to police there are at least 173 gangs like the Gangchil Gang operating in Dhaka. Most of those are known as een gangs.
Leaders of some of the gangs are involved in politics of the ruling party. Although some are not involved in politics, they get shelter from the politicians. A police report has also mentioned that 21 councillors in two Dhaka city corporations provide shelter to the gangs.
The police made a report on een gangs across the country in 2022. It said there are 173 teen gangs across the country. A total of 780 lawsuits have been filed against them on charges of various crimes. Some 900 have been made accused in the cases.
According to the report, there are 66 teen gangs operating in the capital and 57 in Chattogram city. Outside of Dhaka city, there are 24 teen gangs. Each gang consists of 10 to 50 members.
According to an investigation and sources at the police department, the situation has currently deteriorated further than the time police prepared the report.
The gangs not only commit crimes but also clash with each other over establishing supremacy. A High official of DMP told The Daily Observer that that juvenile gangs were involved in 25 murders in 2023.
Among the eight DMP divisions, there are more gangs in the areas inhabited by people of the lower income groups. One such area is Mirpur. There are 16 gangs active in the seven thana areas of DMPs Mirpur division.
Speaking to social scientists, members of the teen gangs and the police, it was learnt that the fights and clashes first emerge over seniority (senior-junior) among the teens and they form groups.
From there the gangs are formed. The ig brothers involved in politics in the localities give them shelter and protection.
Social scientists say that the family and local elders have a role to play in maintaining social order. They should not indulge the teens in any misdeeds and misbehaviour. Now persons involved in politics have taken the place of the elders and use these young teens.
Juvenile gangs who are extorting and looting, causing sufferings to the people, are committing these crimes with the help of the police and the politicians of the ruling party. ?
Opposition Chief Whip and General Secretary of Jatiya Party Mujibul Haque Chunnu said juvenile gangs were involved in 25 murders last year. This force is more in three places of the capital. He said these things while participating in an unscheduled discussion at the National Parliament session on Tuesday, These forces are more in Mirpur, Demra and Sutrapur. Indulging in extortion, extortion, drug dealings, land grabbing, extortion, extortion and murder. According to the polices own report.
