Gazipur Police Cuts Illegal Utility Links in Slum Crackdown

Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) launched a joint operation at the Hajir Mazar slum in Tongi West Police Station area on Wednesday, targeting alleged drug trafficking and other criminal activities. As part of the drive, illegal electricity, water and internet connections serving various structures in the settlement were disconnected.

The operation began in the morning of 22 July, with law enforcement personnel working alongside officials from relevant utility and service agencies. Police said the primary objective was to dismantle unauthorised infrastructure allegedly being used to facilitate drug dealing and other unlawful activities.

During the operation, teams inspected different parts of the slum and identified illegal utility connections. Unauthorised electricity lines were disconnected, while illegal water pipelines and internet connections were also removed. Authorities continued checking the area to identify additional unauthorised connections for disconnection.

Police claimed that parts of the Hajir Mazar slum had long been known as a gathering place for individuals allegedly involved in drug-related activities. According to the authorities, cutting off illegal access to essential services is intended to prevent those involved in criminal activities from exploiting unauthorised infrastructure to maintain their operations.

However, officials had not immediately disclosed the total number of connections disconnected or whether anyone had been detained in connection with the operation.

The participation of utility and service agencies was a significant aspect of the crackdown. Officials from the Dhaka Electric Supply Company, commonly known as DESCO, and other relevant agencies joined GMP personnel in the operation. Alongside disconnecting illegal electricity supplies, teams worked to remove unauthorised water lines and internet connections.

Police officials said such coordinated action is necessary because prolonged criminal activity in densely populated areas can sometimes be supported by informal and illegal utility networks. Disrupting those networks, they said, can help create a more effective environment for law enforcement and reduce the scope for criminal groups to operate.

Mohammad Belayet Hossain, additional police commissioner for crime and operations at GMP, said the Hajir Mazar slum would not be allowed to become a safe haven for drug dealers or criminals.

He said those allegedly involved in drug trafficking and using illegal electricity, water and internet facilities to support their activities would no longer be allowed to continue doing so. All unlawful connections would be identified and disconnected in phases, he added.

The police official also said anti-drug operations would continue and that those involved in criminal activities would face legal action without preferential treatment.

He stressed that law enforcement operations alone would not be sufficient to tackle the drug trade. Active cooperation from local residents, he said, was essential to making anti-drug efforts more effective.

Hossain urged residents to inform police if they had information about drug dealing or other criminal activities in the area. Greater public awareness and timely information from local communities, he said, could help law enforcement agencies respond more quickly and maintain public safety.

He also said GMP was firmly pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against drugs across the metropolitan area. The approach involves sustained enforcement alongside efforts to encourage public cooperation in identifying criminal activities.

Those present during the operation included Mohammad Belayet Hossain, additional police commissioner for crime and operations at GMP, and A K M Nazimul Islam, an executive engineer of DESCO, along with officials from various relevant departments and members of law enforcement agencies.

The operation was still under way when the report was prepared. Police said further details, including the number of illegal connections disconnected and any subsequent legal measures, would be disclosed after the operation was completed.