Bangladesh, Dec 01 : Bangladesh is witnessing a dangerous expansion of its criminal underworld, where violence, extortion, and armed gang activity have surged in the aftermath of the 2024 unrest that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government. As security agencies focused on quelling mass violence during the political turmoil, a silent yet explosive criminal ecosystem took root across Dhaka.
During the riots, several police stations and outposts in the capital were looted, with gangs making off with a large cache of weapons, including SMGs, LMGs, pistols, shotguns, and Chinese rifles. These arms were transported to the Geneva Camp and Pallabi Bihari Camp areas now emerging as major hubs for organised crime.
Intelligence agencies report that the gangs entrenched in these camps are involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and large-scale loot. Many teenage gangs have also entered the network, becoming active participants in drug deals and extortion rackets. Officials say these groups existed earlier but were tightly controlled under the Hasina administration. Since its fall on August 5, 2024, the gangs have resurfaced and grown stronger amid weakened scrutiny and law enforcement stress.
Authorities warn that these gangs now operate openly with little oversight, aided in part by political patronage. With Bangladesh preparing for a crucial election in February, security forces are stretched thin, prioritising election readiness over urban crime suppression. The densly populated Bihari camps offer gangs both cover and control.
Indian intelligence agencies have raised alarm over the cross border implications of this criminal resurgence. Beyond drugs and extortion, the gangs have reportedly established permanent bomb making units referred to as “secret kitchens” in Sectors 4 and 7 of the Geneva Camp. Massive structures housing these units are believed to be producing explosives in significant quantities.
Officials in New Delhi fear these bomb factories could be exploited by Pakistan’s ISI, which has reportedly been pursuing aggressive plans in post Hasina Bangladesh. The ISI is said to be courting terror groups and even deploying Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives to facilitate coordination with outfits like HuJI and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JuMB). Intelligence inputs suggest that the ISI may procure explosives through these gangs for use by terror groups operating inside Bangladesh.
The looming arrival of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed in Bangladesh, as claimed by intelligence sources, has heightened concerns. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi police have struggled to dismantle the gangs, with many alleging that political protection shields the criminal networks.
With elections fast approaching, the fear is that these heavily armed gangs could be mobilised by vested interests to influence or disrupt the electoral process. For India, ensuring a stable and peaceful Bangladesh is essential, especially as New Delhi seeks to reset bilateral ties. Any major violence during the polls could derail that effort.
Officials warn that the large quantities of weapons now circulating, combined with the gangs’ entrenched networks, make the threat of election related violence significantly higher than in previous years.