Jatrabari, one of the busiest entry points to Dhaka, is facing continued concerns over mugging and other street crimes, raising questions about the safety of commuters arriving in the capital from different parts of the country.
Every day, large numbers of passengers enter Dhaka through Yatrabari by long-distance buses, private vehicles, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and other forms of transport. The area connects the capital with major routes serving the southern and south-western regions. Its heavy traffic and constant movement of people, however, have also made parts of the area vulnerable to street crime.
Recent visits to Yatrabari, Sayedabad and Dolaipar, along with conversations with residents, passengers and transport workers, indicate that concerns are particularly high during the early morning, evening and night. Residents say offenders can take advantage of crowded roads, traffic congestion and opportunities to escape quickly after an incident.
The experience of physician Shamsunnahar Hena illustrates the risks faced by passengers arriving in the capital.
On 3 February, after travelling from Rangamati to Dhaka, Hena got down at Yatrabari and took a rickshaw towards Sadarghat. Near the Yatrabari intersection, three men stopped the rickshaw and threatened both her and the driver with weapons. They then took her mobile phone and luggage before fleeing. She filed a case with the police the following day.
The problem is not confined to pedestrians or rickshaw passengers. People travelling in vehicles can also become targets, particularly when traffic brings vehicles to a standstill.
On 12 August, Raju Sheikh witnessed an incident on the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover in which a man attempted to remove parts from another vehicle while traffic was stationary. Passengers in the vehicle caught and assaulted the man, but he later followed their vehicle. Part of the incident was recorded and subsequently circulated on social media.
Cases and fatalities
Data from Yatrabari Police Station show that 119 cases involving mugging and attempted mugging were filed between January 2025 and July 2026. During the same period, 1,151 people were arrested in connection with allegations involving mugging, attempted mugging and attempted robbery.
The number of cases, however, does not necessarily represent the full scale of the problem. Not every victim reports an incident to the police, meaning some cases may remain outside official records.
At least three people were also killed in attacks by alleged muggers during this period, according to available information. The victims included Kawsar Howlader, auto-rickshaw driver Md Yousuf and clothing trader Ashish Joardar. Police said some of the victims were stabbed.
Such incidents have added a more serious dimension to concerns over street crime in the area. What may begin as an attempt to steal a mobile phone, cash or other belongings can escalate rapidly when victims resist or confront the attackers.
Areas identified as higher risk
A 2025 study conducted by students of the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka identified Yatrabari intersection, Kazlarpar, parts of the Chattogram Highway, Dolaipar and Sayedabad Bus Terminal as comparatively crime-prone locations.
The study attributed the vulnerability of these areas partly to the high volume of people using them and the ease with which offenders can leave the scene. Early morning and evening were identified as periods when the risk of mugging is relatively high.
Passengers travelling on long-distance buses from Sayedabad are also routinely warned to remain cautious. Transport workers often advise passengers to keep bus windows closed because mobile phones, jewellery and other valuables can be snatched from outside.
One passenger said people had tried several times to open the windows of their bus from outside while it was passing through Yatrabari. On another occasion, the passenger said they saw a man snatch a mobile phone through the window of a bus ahead and flee.
Police say operations are continuing
Mohammad Raju, officer-in-charge of Yatrabari Police Station, said police were conducting regular operations to control mugging. He claimed that crime in the area had declined compared with previous periods.
According to him, people involved in such offences often come from different areas and move around the city without a fixed residence.
Local residents, however, say the problem has not disappeared despite arrests and police operations. There are also allegations that some individuals return to similar criminal activities after securing bail.
Yatrabari’s strategic importance makes the issue particularly significant. As one of the principal routes connecting Dhaka with the southern and south-western parts of Bangladesh, the area handles a constant flow of passengers entering and leaving the capital.
Ensuring safety there therefore requires more than occasional enforcement drives. Regular patrols, closer monitoring of identified crime-prone points, visible police presence during vulnerable hours and prompt investigation of reported incidents could help strengthen security for commuters.
For thousands of people arriving in Dhaka every day, Yatrabari is the first major gateway to the capital. Making that gateway safer remains a pressing concern for passengers, residents and transport workers alike.
