The gangs reportedly stop targeted individuals in public, force them out of vehicles and sometimes restrain them with handcuffs while posing as law enforcement officers. Their methods can make the attacks appear to be official operations, leaving victims with little opportunity to resist or seek immediate help.
Investigators say several suspects have multiple criminal cases against them. Some allegedly maintain ordinary businesses or live outside Dhaka, allowing them to return to their usual surroundings after a robbery and attempt to avoid detection.
One of the individuals named in connection with the alleged operations is Md Shahidul Islam, 43, a resident of Nabin Purba Para in Chatmohar, Pabna. He reportedly runs a business called M/s Krishi Bhandar in Tarash, Sirajganj. Although known locally as a businessman, intelligence information has linked him to organised robbery around the airport and its surrounding areas.
According to the allegations, Shahidul possesses police-style uniforms, handcuffs and walkie-talkies used in robberies. He is said to return to his business after completing such operations.
He faces five cases in total, including three robbery cases associated with Savar in Dhaka, Sirajganj and Bogura, according to the information provided by investigators.
Shahidul allegedly operates with a group of six to seven other hired robbers. Police have linked the group to the robbery of Tk 1.5 million from a businessman named Mohammad Riaz in Uttara West on 23 July. Investigators reportedly suspect that a man identified as Ratan Chowdhury, also known as Dalim, hired the group to carry out the operation.
Another alleged hired robber operating around the airport is Md Jalil Molla, whose home is in Khanpur, Barishal. He has five robbery cases recorded against him across the country, according to the report. These include one case at Kamrangirchar Police Station in Dhaka, two at Mirzapur Police Station in Tangail, one at Dhanmondi Police Station and another at Mirpur Model Police Station.
Suspect allegedly travels from France for robberies
Among the individuals named in the investigation is Syed Nasir Uddin, a resident of Bagerhat who reportedly lives in France. He is accused of travelling by air from France to India before entering Bangladesh illegally to take part in robberies.
According to the allegations, Nasir works with hired criminals, including his brother-in-law, Shamim. After a robbery, he allegedly returns to France using the same route, making it more difficult for investigators to track his movements.
The report says Nasir was most recently arrested by the Detective Branch of police in connection with a robbery at a gold shop in Uttara. Details of the case, including the evidence supporting the allegations against him, were not provided.
His case illustrates the cross-border dimension that investigators say can complicate efforts to tackle organised robbery. Suspects who move between countries may be harder to locate, while those who remain in rural areas can also evade immediate detection by leaving Dhaka soon after an incident.
Several gangs reportedly operate around the airport
The alleged activities are not limited to Shahidul, Jalil and Nasir. Several other groups are reportedly involved in hired robberies around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and nearby areas.
The groups named in the report include the Al Amin group, the Shawon group and a group associated with a robber identified as Shahid, who was reportedly a former source for the Detective Branch. Some former members of law enforcement agencies who were dismissed from their jobs have also allegedly become involved in such crimes.
Investigators say members of these groups often live in remote parts of the country and return there after carrying out robberies in the capital. Their ability to move quickly between locations can make it harder for police to identify and arrest them immediately after an incident.
The reported payment for a hired robbery ranges from Tk 500,000 to Tk 1 million. However, operations targeting large consignments of gold allegedly smuggled into Bangladesh through the airport can command payments worth crores of taka, according to the information cited in the report.
Such allegations suggest that some robberies may involve advance planning, intelligence about a target’s movements and the involvement of people who arrange or finance the operation. Establishing the roles of suspected organisers, financiers and those who directly carry out the attacks is therefore likely to be important in investigations.
The claims about the groups, their payment arrangements and individual suspects would need to be assessed through evidence gathered in each case.
Businessman robbed after boarding a bus
An incident on 6 April 2024 highlights the risks faced by travellers in the airport area.
Md Rashedul Islam, from Kushtia, arrived at the airport early that morning intending to travel to Singapore. Before his flight, he boarded a bus heading towards the Overseas Training Centre to complete some necessary formalities.
According to the report, five to six robbers posing as passengers locked the bus doors, blindfolded Rashedul and assaulted him. They took his belongings before leaving him near the Jasim Uddin roundabout, beside the MES flyover.
The incident demonstrates how criminals can exploit travellers’ unfamiliarity with local transport arrangements and their need to reach different facilities before departure. People travelling overseas may carry cash, documents and other valuables, making them potential targets for organised groups.
The use of ordinary vehicles or passenger disguises can also make it difficult for victims to recognise a threat until they are already trapped. The allegations involving fake law enforcement identities raise a separate concern, as such impersonation can undermine public confidence in legitimate security operations.
Travellers can reduce some risks by using recognised transport services, confirming the identity of anyone claiming to be an officer and contacting the relevant authorities when circumstances appear suspicious. These precautions cannot eliminate the threat, but they may help people avoid some common forms of deception.
Police say operations have reduced robberies
Mohammad Ilias Kabir, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch, Uttara Division, said criminals often leave Dhaka soon after committing offences in the airport and Uttara areas.
He said officers sometimes face considerable difficulties in arresting suspects, who may subsequently obtain bail and become involved in further criminal activity. However, he added that continued law enforcement efforts had helped reduce robberies in the area considerably.
His remarks underline a recurring challenge for investigators: suspects may move across police jurisdictions, while the time required to trace them can give them an opportunity to escape. Effective coordination between units and timely exchanges of information are therefore important when a case involves several locations.
Wing Commander M Z M Intikhab Chowdhury, director of the law and media wing of the Special Response Battalion (SRB), said the force regularly conducts intelligence surveillance, patrols and operations to prevent robbery, snatching and other offences around the airport.
He said criminals frequently change their locations, timing and methods in an attempt to evade law enforcement. The SRB therefore carries out operations through sustained and coordinated activities involving the relevant agencies, he added.
The alleged pattern of hired robberies presents challenges beyond the arrest of individuals found at a crime scene. Investigators must also establish who selected the targets, arranged the attacks, supplied equipment and handled the proceeds. Where suspects are accused of operating across borders, their movements and possible connections with others may also require examination.
For travellers using Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, security remains a practical concern, particularly when travelling with cash or valuable possessions. Continued patrols, intelligence-led investigations and cooperation between law enforcement agencies could help disrupt organised groups and reduce opportunities for further attacks.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the response will depend not only on arrests but also on the quality of evidence, the progress of cases through the courts and the ability of authorities to prevent suspects from returning to criminal activity.
