A major jewellery burglary in Dhaka's Mohammadpur district has reignited concerns about deteriorating public security in one of the capital's most crime-ridden areas, where police say organised gangs and repeat offenders are becoming more active.
According to police, burglars broke into New Rana Jewellers in Chandrima Bazar early Monday morning and stole around 70 bhori of gold, 600 bhori of silver, and approximately Tk 4 lakh in cash.
According to police and the shop owner, the stolen gold is worth Tk 1.54 crore, and the silver is worth approximately Tk 21.6 lakh.
Majbauddin, Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur Police Station, stated that several police teams had visited the scene and conducted investigations. CCTV footage from surrounding areas has been collected, he said, and police are hopeful of identifying the suspects and recovering the stolen goods.
The incident has refocused attention on the overall law-and-order situation in Mohammadpur, a densely populated area that police have officially designated as a crime hotspot.
Local residents say personal safety concerns have become a daily occurrence, with frequent reports of mugging, robbery, and violent assaults.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's detective branch has identified at least 13 locations in Mohammadpur as high-risk 'red zones' for mugging, including Dhaka Udyan, Basila Bridge, Taj Mahal Road, and Japan Garden City. Residents report that many commercial and residential areas are now avoided after dark.
Police officials blame much of the increase in crime on the growing presence of teenage gangs allegedly engaged in mugging, drug trafficking, and extortion. Authorities estimate that approximately 100 gang members are currently active in Mohammadpur.
Security concerns have grown since August of last year, with repeated reports of gunfire, armed robberies, and daylight attacks causing public anxiety.
In one case, four police officers were injured during an anti-drug operation in Rayer Bazar. In another, a video of a machete attack in Dhaka Udyan went viral on social media.
Mohammadpur has also witnessed a number of high-profile crimes in recent months. On December 9, Laila Afroz and her 15-year-old daughter were discovered dead at their home on Shahjahan Road. Police later arrested a domestic worker who had recently joined the household.
In separate incidents, people posing as police officers reportedly broke into homes in the Chandrima Housing area, assaulting residents and stealing valuables. The military has also conducted operations against teenage gangs in Basila, apprehending seven suspects and recovering sharp weapons.
Police say regular operations are ongoing, with the recent arrest of 11 members of organised criminal groups in the area. However, a senior police officer admitted that crime rates in Mohammadpur remain higher than average, with theft and mugging posing significant challenges.
For residents and business owners, the jewellery heist has served as a stark reminder of what many regard as a deeper security crisis—one that authorities acknowledge will necessitate sustained law enforcement efforts and increased community cooperation to address.
