Highway Havoc: Back-to-Back Bus Robberies Plague Dhaka, Residents Live in Terror on Bangladesh Highways
Highway Robberies Soar in Bangladesh, commuters left shaken
In a worrying trend, Bangladesh has experienced a surge in highway robberies, with two moving buses hijacked and their passengers relieved of their valuables at knifepoint in a span of just 30 minutes on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar. This brazen daylight robbery is the latest in a string of incidents that have left commuters reeling, with at least five buses falling prey to muggers since March 2 in the same city.
The first bus was attacked early morning, with the hijackers demanding that the driver stop the vehicle near the C&B Bridge. Passengers on board were then taken hostage and their cash and gold ornaments stolen. A female passenger on the Rajdhani Paribahan bus, which was traveling from Radio Colony to Nabinagar, described the harrowing ordeal: “Three muggers with knives asked the driver to stop the bus, and when he did, they took us hostage and snatched our belongings before getting off”. With many passengers on board, none dared to resist, leaving the hijackers to make off with their loot. Just 30 minutes later, a similar incident occurred near the Bank Town Bridge, with three to four individuals on board the bus brandishing knives and relieving women passengers of their gold ornaments.
Experts point to a rise in highway robberies since the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024. According to the Bangladesh Highway Police Headquarters, in February alone, a staggering 74 such robberies were reported. The lack of effective law enforcement and lax patrols by authorities has been cited as a major contributing factor to this alarming trend. The crimes are no longer limited to nighttime, with muggers now targeting buses, even in broad daylight, by blocking roads with fallen trees or stopping vehicles at busy intersections.
Recent attacks have targeted not only locals but also expatriates, sparking widespread panic. A senior journalist and local eyewitness recalled the harrowing experience of being mugged on the same highway, saying: “There were three of them in total, no one had a mask on their face, and there were many passengers on the bus but no one protested and sat quietly at knifepoint.” Law enforcement agencies have been criticized for their inaction, with many organizations calling for increased patrols and improved security measures.
As the trend continues to spread across the country, with incidents reported in Chauddagram, Comilla districts, ordinary people, businessmen, and expatriates alike are falling victim. The situation has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Bangladesh’s law enforcement, with many calling for immediate action to curb this worrying trend.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/04/11/bangladesh-back-to-back-daylight-bus-robberies-on-dhaka-highway-spark-fear/
Category : INTERNATIONAL,News Alert
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Publish Date: 2025-04-11 21:33:00
