Car Stolen From TSC During World Cup Screening

A visitor lost his private car while attending a FIFA World Cup match screening at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area of the University of Dhaka. The vehicle was stolen from near Hakim Chattar in the university area, with CCTV footage showing that three individuals allegedly carried out the theft in a planned manner within just a few minutes.

Although a case has been filed with Shahbagh Police Station, no suspect has been arrested so far. Police and university authorities are reviewing available evidence as part of the ongoing investigation to identify those involved and recover the stolen vehicle.

The owner of the car, Hafizar Rahman, said he went to the TSC area with his wife on Thursday night, 16 July, to watch the World Cup football match. Like many other football fans, he joined the crowd that had gathered in the area to enjoy the game in a public setting.

At around 1:50am, Hafizar parked his private car at a designated area beside Rokeya Hall before heading towards the screening area. Around 20 minutes later, when he returned, he found that the vehicle had disappeared.

Initially, Hafizar searched the surrounding areas but could not locate the car. He then informed the university authorities and sought assistance. With support from the university administration, CCTV footage from nearby areas was examined to understand what had happened.

The footage reportedly showed three people involved in the theft. According to the visuals, two individuals left the area on motorcycles, while another person drove away with the stolen car towards Nilkhet. The footage indicated that the operation was carried out in a coordinated manner.

The following morning, Hafizar’s father, Shamsul Haque, filed a case at Shahbagh Police Station. Later, an application was submitted to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner requesting that the investigation be transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) of police for a more extensive probe.

Expressing his shock over the incident, Hafizar said he had been visiting the University of Dhaka area for many years and had a long association with the campus. He is also a former student of the University Laboratory School and College. According to him, he had never previously heard of a private car being stolen from inside the university area in such a manner.

The incident has raised concerns among visitors and students regarding security arrangements in one of the capital’s busiest public spaces, particularly during large gatherings when thousands of people often visit the TSC area.

University of Dhaka Proctor Associate Professor Israfi Ratan said the administration had provided necessary assistance to the victim after the incident. He added that steps were being considered to strengthen security across the campus.

The proctor said a proposal had been submitted to the university administration to install artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled surveillance cameras at key entry points of the campus. Such technology could help improve monitoring, detect suspicious activities and support law enforcement efforts in preventing similar incidents in the future.

Police officials said the investigation is continuing, with efforts underway to analyse CCTV footage and other available information. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the theft as yet.