Bangladesh: Series of Daylight Bus Heists on Dhaka Highway Trigger Alarm

Synopsis

Bangladesh is facing a troubling increase in highway robberies, with two hijacked buses robbed of gold jewelry at knifepoint in broad daylight on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway. This alarming trend has raised serious concerns for passenger safety, especially after five buses were targeted since early March.

Key Takeaways

Daylight robberies on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.
At least five buses have been attacked since March 2.
Robbers primarily target expatriates and valuables.
Concerns over law enforcement's effectiveness.
Increase in robbery cases reported recently.

Dhaka, April 11 (NationPress) Bangladesh is grappling with an alarming rise in highway robberies as unidentified assailants hijacked two moving buses and stole gold jewelry from passengers at knifepoint on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar on Friday. This daylight incident has heightened worries regarding the safety of travelers, as at least five buses have been targeted by the muggers since March 2, according to local media reports.

The first robbery occurred early in the morning when a Rajdhani Paribahan bus en route to Nabinagar was hijacked.

"I boarded the Rajdhani Paribahan bus from the Radio Colony area to head to campus. Before we reached the C&B bridge, three robbers wielding knives demanded the driver stop. Once halted, they took the passengers hostage and stole cash and gold ornaments before fleeing," a female passenger recounted to the Bangladeshi daily Business Standard.

"There were three of them, and none wore masks. Despite many passengers being present, no one resisted; everyone remained silent at knifepoint," she added.

The second robbery unfolded similarly near the Bank Town Bridge, just a half-hour later.

"The bus was crossing a bridge between Bank and Police Town when three to four individuals, who were already on board, brandished knives and looted gold jewelry from female passengers," reported a local journalist who was also a victim.

Last week, robbers had also stolen cash, mobile phones, and gold from passengers on the same highway.

Local news outlets have reported a distressing increase in highway robberies, particularly targeting expatriates. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, such incidents have surged, according to the Bangladesh Highway Police headquarters.

In February, 74 robbery cases were reported, a slight increase from 71 in January. On February 27 and March 1, two separate robberies occurred in Chauddagram, Comilla, targeting a Malaysian and a Kuwaiti expatriate, as reported by Bangladesh's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo.

The report highlighted that these crimes are not restricted to nighttime, with robbers stopping passenger buses by blocking roads with fallen trees even during the day.

Many organizations claim the rise in robberies is a result of the inaction and insufficient patrols by law enforcement agencies. Numerous robberies have been reported on highways across the country recently, affecting businessmen, expatriates, and ordinary citizens, which has sparked widespread fear and raised doubts about the effectiveness of law enforcement.