Md. Abdul Rahim, Staff Correspondent :
For nearly a decade, teenage gangs have been operating with increasing impunity across Dhaka and other parts of the country. Now, these groups have taken a more violent turn—armed with machetes, they are carrying out attacks in broad daylight, spreading fear in residential neighborhoods. Since the government was overthrown on August 5, these machete-wielding gangs have taken control of streets and alleys, engaging in robbery, extortion, and even murder.
The Growing Threat :
According to police headquarters, a new faction of teenage gangs, dubbed the “Machete Force,” has emerged, terrorizing cities nationwide. As night falls, their gleaming blades flash in the darkness, reinforcing their dominance. Citizens are too frightened to speak out.
Currently, Bangladesh has around 237 teenage gang groups, with 127 of them based in Dhaka alone. Police records estimate their total membership at 2,382 individuals.
Recent Violent Incidents :
Several shocking incidents highlight the growing brutality of these groups:
Two months ago, a teenager was publicly hacked with a machete in Rayerbazar.
Last month in Jatrabari, a couple was attacked on a rickshaw, leaving the husband critically injured.
On February 5, during an anti-narcotics raid in Mohammadpur, a gang member attacked four police officers with a machete.
On February 1, a shootout between rival teenage gangs in Hatirjheel left a street vendor and a young boy wounded.
On February 3, a gang armed with local weapons conducted a show-of-force rally in Adabor, attacking locals who resisted, injuring over 50 people.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred on Monday night in Uttara, where machete-wielding gang members attacked a rickshaw passenger and his wife. As the husband tried to protect his wife, he was repeatedly slashed. A video of the attack went viral, intensifying public fear.
Gang Operations and Expansion:
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), nearly 40% of crimes in the city involve teenage gang members. Their numbers have surged beyond 20,000, and their weapons now include modern firearms alongside machetes, knives, and daggers. Areas such as Mohammadpur, Adabor, Mogbazar, Jatrabari, Mirpur, and Uttara are particularly affected.
Local residents of Mohammadpur and Adabor report frequent gang-led mass robberies and weapon displays. Many now fear leaving their homes after dark. Police intelligence suggests that these teenage gangs operate under the influence of drug cartels, using minors as foot soldiers for criminal activities.
Authorities’ Response and Expert Opinions:
Law enforcement has ramped up efforts to dismantle these gangs. Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police Chief Additional Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallik stated,
“We are actively tracking and arresting these reckless teenage criminals. Several gang members have already been detained.”
Meanwhile, social crime expert Dr. Touhidul Haque of Dhaka University’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research emphasizes that simply arresting gang members will not solve the issue.
“We must identify and prosecute the powerful individuals who protect these gangs. Additionally, we need social reforms, stricter laws, and greater community involvement to address this crisis,” he said.
As Dhaka grapples with this growing menace, urgent intervention is required to restore public safety and curb the rise of machete-wielding teenage gangs.
