It was 6 January 2017 when Adnan, a student of class nine, was beaten to death by some teenagers. Later, it was known through the investigation that the teenagers involved in murder were the memebers of a teen-gang. It was also known that there were more than 50 likesome gangs in the capital specifically in Uttara. Since then, Dhaka’s teen-gang culture came into limelight. Then, the law enforcement agencies became alert and they conducted several drives with a view to eradicating the gang culture. They also held most of the gang leaders. Though the gangs were inactive while conducting the drives, they became violent after some days. According to police, Adnan’s fault was that he left teen gang Disco Boys and joined the rival Nine Star gang.
For last few years, a number of teenagers who were intentionally or unintentionally involved in gangs lost their lives in and around the capital owing to the deadly gang culture. The death toll is rising as they are continuously trying to be more powerful than one another. They are getting involved in clash among themselves for drawing respect from the juniors of the locality and establishing supremacy in local areas under the leadership of ‘Boro Bhai’.
Very recently, a fifteen years old teenager, Sanju, has been killed and two others have been injured in a clash between two groups in Dhaka’s Keraniganj area following a brawl over playing badminton.
On 31 August 2018, Mehedi Hasan, a teen-gang member, was stabbed to death in Dhaka Dakkhin Khan over ‘senior-junior respect issue’ in a clash between two gangs: ‘Arafat Group’ and ‘Shanto Group’. Mehedi belonged to ‘Shanto’ gang and that’s why he had to die.
The whole country knows about Borguna’s widely talked and discussed Rifat murder case. Rifat Sharif, an internet service provider by profession, was hacked to death by miscreants in front of Barguna Government College in broad daylight on June 26 2019. In investigation, it was found that teen-gang ‘007’ also called ‘Bond Bahini’ killed Rifath over love affair. CCTV footage became viral on social media and the video shows how horrible and barbaric the murder was! Later, the group leader Nayan Bond was killed in ‘gunfight’ with police.
Mohsin, ninth grader of Child Haven International School, was hacked to death and his three friends were wounded in city’s Mohammadpur area on 5 September 2019. Mohsin was the member of ‘Film Jhirjhir’ and he was killed by his rival gang ‘Atongko’ over establishing supremacy in the locality.
In capital’s Kamrangi Chor area, Sajib, a gang member, was hacked to death on 15 July 2020 over establishing supremacy in the locality and senior-junior issue. Local people said that of the youths of the locality are mostly arrogant; they do not show respect to the superior or older people even they misbehave with them. They openly smoke and take drug. They assault the person whoever talk about their activities.
The aforementioned examples, of course, do not portray the whole scenario of the youth-gang culture and its dangerous bad effects. These examples only show that our young generation is taking the wrong track wasting their morning hours of their lives.
Although the gangs remain silent while conducting drives, they become violent after some days and get engaged in different sorts of crimes such as establishing supremacy in local areas, mugging, snatching, drug peddling, sexual harassment and many other dangerous and heinous crimes. Recently, law enforcement agencies have arrested some members of gangs. The members gave confessional statements.
Why are the youths getting involved in gangs? Gang members said that they get involved in gangs for establishing supremacy in the locality. With a view to taking the control of an area, they fight among each other with hockey sticks, cricket stumps and knives. To show off strength, gang members often ride motorbikes recklessly and honk needlessly, paint graffiti and clash with other group members. Even they sometimes kill other gang members over “senior-junior respect issue” to create a fearful atmosphere for notifying their powerful position in the area.
Day by day different groups of teen-gangs are becoming violent. They are trying to make their group viral by threatening or killing other group members. In this way they are destroying their lives as well as families. Their parents or family members cannot even know the fact that their child is derailing and becoming a cause of concern. Besides drug dealing, snatching, extorting, these youths are being used as mercenaries by a group of people of the society. Along with eve-teasing, their names are in the list of all sorts of crimes. Crossing the border of Dhaka and Chattogram, this gang culture is spreading in the rural areas as well.
You may be surprised reading the peculiar names of the gangs: Lara Dey, Film Jhirjhir, Dekhe Lo Chine Lo, Kopaiya Dey, Disco Boys, Chhoton Group, Power Boys, Nafiz Don, Big Boss, Dark Shadow, Red Light, Dada Boyz, Dazzling Spirit, DSB, FCRTR, 15 Club, PL Rakib, Saiko Ridoy, Dare Devil, Gongzilla, HNY, Dark Souls.
The leaders of these gangs are not from educated class. They are mostly from slum areas and most of them are illiterate or semi-literate. These leaders are also accused of robbery, snatching, eve-teasing and many other crimes. They tactfully influence the youths of schools and colleges alluring drugs and showing them banned content on mobile phones. The period of adolescence is very vulnerable. Adolescents can easily be influenced by alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs. The fact is well known by these illiterate leaders. Also, adolescents coming contact with arms start dreaming to be powerful. Gradually, they become gang members and listen to what their leaders order to do.
Controlling teen-gangs is an extremely difficult task because of some factors: firstly, it is not possible for the parents to monitor their children around the clock. It becomes more difficult when children do obey their commands. It is the duty of gurdians to show the youths the right and the wrong paths. Our youths are not getting this guidelines. Secondly, youths born and brought up in slum areas have no aim, no guildlines and obviously no family bonding. They do whatever they want to do. They do not care anyone, and do not fear any situation. They are totally out of control. Besides, many teenagers who are engaged in gang culture come from different districts. As their family is not with them, they do not have anyone to guide them. It is closely noticed that most of them are staying out of home till late night. This type of uncontrolled movement paves the way of involving in crimes. Being influenced by others, they become a gang member. Moreover, density of population is one of the major hindrances for controlling youth gangs.
Due to negative impacts of modern information technology, crime propensity is increasing among adolescents. Leaving indoor and outdoor games and sports, they remain busy with their phones from morning to late night. For this, their thinking power and psychological condition are negatively changing. In the name of making ‘Likee’ and ‘Tiktok’ video, they are unintentionally getting involved in obscene and meaningless activities. The videos they make are misleading millions of youths too.
As the child grows older, parents must be more careful about their child. For the parents, it is important to know what their children do and with whom they pass time. At the same time, parents need to be aware of whether they are pushing their children to the brink of destruction in the name of fulfilling their demands.
The writer is a Lecturer of Accounting, Department of Business Studies, Principal Kazi Faruky College, Lakshmipur. Email: [email protected].