Hejaz Bin Alam alias Ezaz, (34) a well-known name in Dhaka's criminal underworld, passed away on Saturday evening while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) under the custody of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Ezaz had been undergoing dialysis at DMCH before his death, said DB Sub-inspector Mahfuz. According to the deceased's father Shah Alam, despite being out on bail, DB police took Ezaz away on Friday night (March 14). The following morning, he was admitted to DMCH, where he was placed in Ward 601 on the sixth floor. Bangladesh reaffirms ‘zero tolerance’ stance on terrorism, commits to global security Following Ezaz’s death, his family members forcibly took his body from the hospital but later returned it around two hours later at 9pm.. DB sources said that Ezaz, the second-in-command of “top terror” Sanjidul Islam Iman alias Iman, was arrested by DB’s Wari division on Friday in connection with a case filed at Mohammadpur Police Station.  Later, he fell ill while in custody at the DB headquarters on Mintoo Road and was subsequently admitted to DMCH, where he died while undergoing treatment.

A sense of unease grips the residents of Mohammadpur as the area finds itself at the heart of a growing crime wave. The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has recently identified 13 hotspots within the locality as ‘red zones’ for mugging, shedding light on an escalating crisis that has left residents fearful and law enforcement agencies scrambling for solutions. From Dhaka Udyan to Basila Bridge and Taj Mahal Road to Japan Garden City, these areas have become dangerous terrains where criminals operate with alarming impunity. According to a senior DB official, the proliferation of teenaged gangs has exacerbated the situation, pushing criminal activities, including mugging, drug trading, and violent attacks, to intolerable levels. The lawlessness in Mohammadpur has been particularly noticeable since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year. The once-thriving neighbourhood has transformed into one of Dhaka’s most crime-infested zones, with reports of gunfire, robbery, and armed assaults becoming a daily occurrence. Such an environment has led to a heightened sense of insecurity among residents, who fear that no time of the day is truly safe. Teen Gangs The rise of teenage gang culture has emerged as a major concern for both law enforcement agencies and the local community. Authorities have identified around 100 members of such gangs operating in Mohammadpur alone. The audacity of these criminals was starkly displayed on February 6, when four police officers—three of them sub-inspectors—were severely injured during an anti-drug operation in Rayer Bazar. The attackers, armed with sharp weapons, left the officers battered, reinforcing fears about the growing brutality of teen gangs. One of the most shocking incidents occurred in late January when a video surfaced on social media showing a teenage boy wielding a machete and assaulting another in broad daylight in the Dhaka Udyan area. Special police operation to tackle growing mugging incidents The video sent shockwaves through the city, highlighting the reckless nature of these crimes and the lack of fear among perpetrators. Habibur Rahman, a long-time resident of Dhaka Udyan, believes the unchecked rise of teen gangs is the primary reason behind the surge in crimes. “These groups operate freely, and many are involved in drug peddling and violent attacks. The situation has worsened in recent months,” he said. Fear in Broad Daylight What makes the situation more alarming is that mugging and violent crimes are no longer restricted to the cover of darkness. According to an intelligence report, Dhaka currently has 432 high-risk mugging spots, with Mohammadpur alone accounting for 108 of them. Many residents report that criminals strike even during daylight hours, creating an atmosphere of perpetual anxiety. Rabiul Islam, a security guard, became one of the most high-profile victims when he was fatally stabbed by muggers in Dhaka Udyan on October 10 last year. Another gruesome attack followed on January 30 when 26-year-old Md. Sumon Sheikh had his left wrist severed during a mugging incident in the Adabor Balur Math area. Sumon was crossing the road at around 2:45 pm when the attackers pounced, leaving him critically injured. Police arrest 3 suspected mugging gang members in Dhaka's Uttarkhan Passersby rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but the brutality of the crime left a deep scar on the community’s psyche. Authorities Respond: A Glimmer of Hope? In response to the worsening crime situation, the DB of DMP, alongside joint forces, has ramped up operations in Mohammadpur. Law enforcement agencies have arrested several gang members, while others have reportedly fled the area due to intensified crackdowns. Joint Commissioner (DB-North) of the DMP, Mohammad Rabiul Hossain Bhuiyan, acknowledged that crime in Mohammadpur had reached an intolerable level in recent months. However, he assured residents that with persistent efforts, the situation is beginning to show signs of improvement. “We have conducted repeated anti-crime operations. A large number of miscreants, including teenage gang members, have been arrested. Many others have fled the area,” he said. Despite these efforts, concerns remain. For many residents, safety still feels like a distant dream. Until criminals are fully eradicated and law enforcement establishes firm control, Mohammadpur will remain a battleground between security forces and a rising wave of organised street crime. Drive to continue till Dhaka free from mugging: DMP Commissioner For now, the residents of Mohammadpur wait—hoping for the day their neighbourhood will once again be a place of peace, rather than fear.

Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested former health secretary Jahangir Alam. There were several cases filed against Jahangir. He will be produced before the court in connection with one of these cases, said DB Joint Commissioner (North) Mohammad Rabiul Hossain Bhuiyan on Tuesday. Jahangir had been the secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare during the July-August mass uprising. After the fall of the Awami League government, Jahangir was moved from the Health Services Division to the Planning Commission on August 20, where he was assigned to the Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Institutions Division. 2 arrested for attacking couple with machete at Uttara Later, amid allegations, the government placed him on compulsory retirement. Jahangir Alam assumed the role of secretary of the Health Services Division on October 9, 2023. Prior to that, he had served as secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare until October 8, 2023.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Police has rescued Kazi Raisul Islam alias Selim, 45, Chairman of the Moukoron Union Parishad of Patuakhali district, who had been abducted from the Ekuria area of Dokkhin Keraniganj on Wednesday. Selim was rescued on Thursday afternoon from a building located south of Doleswar Government Primary School in Dokkhin Keraniganj. In connection with the abduction, police arrested five members of a kidnapping gang from various areas of Dokkhin Keraniganj. The arrested individuals are Mohammad Farhad, 34, Toufiq Rahat, 20, Ripon Mahmud Nayan, 27, Md. Amir Hossain, 65, and Mohammad Didar, 25. According to sources from the Detective Branch (DB), the UP chairman left Patuakhali for Dhaka at approximately 11:30 pm on December 31, 2024. On January 1, at around 6 am, Selim called his wife and informed her that when the bus he was traveling on reached Ekuria BRTA area, 15 to 20 unidentified individuals boarded the bus. Read: Police detain 5 members of human-trafficking syndicate, 66 rescued They intimidated the driver, conductor, and other passengers, forced Selim off the bus, and abducted him in a private car. One of the kidnappers then contacted his wife and demanded a ransom of Tk 1 crore, threatening to kill Selim if the money was not paid. Since the incident, the victim's mobile phone has been turned off. Later, the DB's Organized Crime, Car Theft Prevention, and Rescue Team, under the Mirpur Division, conducted raids in the area following the report of the victim's wife. According to DB sources, the kidnappers held Selim captive for two days, during which he was subjected to severe physical torture. Further legal action is currently underway, DB added.

Journalist Munni Saha has been released from the custody of the Detective Branch, just hours after being detained from Kawran Bazar in the capital on Saturday night. She was handed over to her family on payment of a bond shortly after midnight (technically Sunday). Quoting Rezaul Karim Mallick, additional commissioner (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, The Daily Star is reporting she was released under the obscure Section 497 of the CrPC. It means she must appear in court to seek bail and comply with future police summons. Read: BFIU seeks journalist Munni Saha's bank account details Earlier, a DB team picked up Munni Saha from the Karwan Bazar area around 9:30pm on Saturday, said DB Additional Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallik. He said that Munni Saha faces several cases in Dhaka. Responding to questions, he said that they have not yet determined under which police station's case the arrest will be shown.

A four-member team from the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is en route to Nepal following an investigation in India, to probe the murder of Jhenaidah-4 MP Anwarul Azim Anar. The team, led by the DB Chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, is focusing on the main accused in the murder, Akhtaruzzaman Shaheen. MP Anar murder investigation sees remarkable progress: DB Chief Before departing Dhaka, Harun addressed media reports about the arrest of a person named Siam in Nepal. “I can't say anything at this moment. But we are going for an investigation. We will let you know soon,” Harun told journalists at Dhaka Airport this morning. Harun revealed that the suspects in Anar's murder had used the Nepal route. "We have spoken to Jihad in India. We have several suspects related to Anar's murder, apart from the main culprit. Both sides have discussed this matter," he said. Motive behind MP Anar murder yet to be ascertained: DMP Commissioner He also noted that several major criminals from Bangladesh, including suspects in Anar's murder, have recently been using the Kolkata route. “Considering everything, we have also written to Interpol to check if there are any criminals in that area. Overall, we are going to Nepal mainly for investigation," Harun added. DB mum about possible recovery of MP Anar's body parts

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained seven people, including security guards, several hours after snatching Tk 11.25 crore from a private security agency’s vehicle in Turag area of Dhaka’s Uttara on Thursday morning. Additional Commissioner (DB) of the DMP Harun-ur-Rashed told UNB that based on information, the detectives detained them, including security guards from Khilkhet in the evening. The detectives also recovered most of the robbed amount but he did not mention the recovered amount. Read more: Tk 11.25 crore robbed from pvt security agency vehicle in Dhaka’s Uttara officer of the DB, preferring anonymity, said that they recovered Tk 9 crore, out of Tk 11.25 crore, and also seized the micro bus, which was used in committing the mugging incident.Shariful Islam, inspector (Investigation) of Turag Police Station, said that the incident happened while a private security company’s vehicle with Tk 11.25 crore – of Dutch Bangla Bank Ltd – was going towards Savar EPZ area to deposit the money at the bank’s ATM booths at around 7:30 am. At Uttara Sector-16, a group of eight armed people stopped the vehicle and took away the money at gunpoint, he said, adding that police are raiding nearby places to recover the money.

Detective Branch (DB) of police on Monday submitted the final report before a Dhaka court clearing Amatullah Bushra of the murder charges in a case filed over the death of Buet student Fardin Noor Parash. DB Inspector Yasin Shikder, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the report to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka. The case is scheduled for a hearing on February 14. Bushra was arrested from her Banasree home in Dhaka on November 10, 2022, after Fardin’s father filed a murder case naming Bushra as an accused and several unidentified people with Rampura Police Station following recovery of his son’s body from the Shitalakhkhya River on November 7. Also read: Fardin death: Probe report submission deferred to February 14 After a long 38-day investigation, the DB chief said on December 14 that Fardin roamed alone around different areas of Dhaka on the night of November 4 before he went missing. “Fardin was not murdered, he committed suicide by jumping into the river from Sultana Kamal Bridge on November 4 out of desperation,” he said. On January 8, Judge Tahsin Iftekhar of Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court-7 granted bail to Bushra in the case after hearing a bail petition. On January 10, she walked out of the Kashimpur Women's Central Jail, two months after her arrest. Fardin was a 3rd year student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s civil engineering department and a resident of Qutubpur area in Narayanganj's Fatullah. Police recovered Fardin’s body from the Shitalakhkhya River, behind a cotton mill at Siddhirganj, on November 7, three days after he went missing. Sheikh Farhad, a physician at Narayanganj General Hospital where the autopsy was done, said there were several injury marks on Fardin’s head and body. Kazi Nuruddin Rana, Fardin’s father, filed a case in connection with his son’s killing with Rampura Police Station on the same day and the case was later transferred to Detective Branch (DB) Police. END/UNB/Corr/SIS/ssk

Human Rights Watch has said Bangladesh authorities should investigate recent allegations of enforced disappearances and torture. “Bangladesh’s Detective Branch has previously been implicated in allegations of grave human rights abuses by local human rights groups, including enforced disappearances and torture, “Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said on Friday. The New York-based rights watchdog said that allegations of torture in Bangladesh are rarely investigated or prosecuted. Following a review in July 2019, the UN Committee against Torture described the Bangladesh police as a “state within a state,” asserting that “in general, one got the impression that the police, as well as other law enforcement agencies, were able to operate with impunity and zero accountability.” Only one case of torture has been convicted under Bangladesh’s Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act since it was passed a decade ago, it said citing media reports. Read more: US did not impose new sanctions as human rights situation has improved: Law Minister Bangladesh has ignored repeated requests from the UN Committee Against Torture to follow up its recommendations, as required, it said adding that the committee’s recommendations included independent monitoring of all detention sites and investigation of all allegations of torture or ill-treatment by law enforcement officials. Bangladesh's security forces are under increased scrutiny following the designation of human rights sanctions by the US government and in the lead-up to general elections slated for early 2024. Bangladesh authorities should implement the recommendations by the Committee Against Torture, investigate allegations, and hold perpetrators accountable, HRW added.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Friday said that the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Detective Branch (DB) of police must have revealed the reason behind the death of Buet student Fardin Noor Parash after proper analysis. He said this in a response to reporters after paying homage at the Martyrs' Memorial of Rajarbagh Police Line in the capital marking of the Victory Day. Regarding DB’s report revealing Fardin’s death by suicide, the minister said, “Rab and DB police are working on this case. They can say it well.” Read more: DB to apprise court that Bushra has no link to Fardin’s death, says its chief After a long 38-day investigation, on December 14, Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Harunur Rashid claimed that Fardin died by suicide after scrutinizing the footages regarding Fardin’s movement before his death. Then he went to Sultana Kamal Bridge around 2:34 am on November 4. He was alone on the bridge till 2:37am, he said. “He didn’t know swimming and we believe that Fardin committed suicide by jumping off Sultana Kamal Bridge,” he said. However, Fardin’s father Kazi Nuruddin said that his son did not kill himself, he was murdered. Meanwhile, DB police will give a report to the court that Amatullah Bushra, a 3rd year student of East West University who is now in jail, has no connection with Fardin’s death, said DB chief on Thursday. Read more: Fardin didn’t commit suicide, he was murdered, claims father Fardin was a 3rd year student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s (Buet) civil engineering department and a resident of Qutubpur area in Narayanganj's Fatullah. Police recovered Fardin’s body from the Shitalakhkhya River, behind a cotton mill at Siddhirganj, on November 7, three days after he went missing. Sheikh Farhad, a physician at Narayanganj General Hospital where the autopsy was done, said there were several injury marks on Fardin’s head and body. Kazi Nuruddin Rana, Fardin’s father, filed a case in connection with his son’s killing with Rampura Police Station on the same day and the case was later transferred to Detective Branch (DB) Police.