More Than 100 Teen Gangs Active in Cox's Bazar: Tourists and Pedestrians Targeted at the Beach, 36 Arrested in 24 Hours

More than 100 small and large teen gangs are active in Cox's Bazar town and the surrounding areas. An inquiry has found that, alongside local teenagers, Rohingya teenagers and young men who have come from different parts of the country are also involved in some of these groups, according to information that emerged in recent drives by law enforcement agencies.

Members of these groups are becoming involved in crimes centred on establishing dominance, drugs, snatching, extortion and disputes among themselves. During the tourist season, a section of them targets tourists and lone pedestrians. Local people allege that some unscrupulous persons in the area and so-called 'big brothers' are using these adolescent boys.

Local people say their movement increases after evening in the beach-centred areas of Sugandha, Shaibal, Seagull, Divine Point, Kabita Chattar, Jhauban, Kalatali and some secluded parts of Marine Drive.

According to local people, tourists are sometimes befriended, and at other times lured to secluded places with the temptation of drugs or immoral activities. They are then allegedly threatened and robbed of money, mobile phones and valuables.

Local people have also identified the town's central bus terminal, Kalatali junction, Sugandha junction, the Kalatali bypass, Lighthouse, Nurpara, Peshkarpara, Hospital Road, Anderson Road, Sahityika Palli, Pahartali, Laboratory School Road, Bholaier Ghona, Tekpara and various secluded parts of Marine Drive as areas prone to teenage crime.

Nasr Ullah, a resident of the town's Baidyaghona area, said: 'After evening, pedestrians and tourists are stopped and threatened. On my way home after work, teenagers gather in groups at Goldighir Par. We local people are also frightened by this. Many of us avoid moving at night for fear of attacks with knives and machetes.'

Mohammad Raihan, a local resident, was recently robbed in the Khurushkul new bridge area. He said: 'While returning home by mishuk after closing my shop, a group of youths stopped our vehicle. Showing a knife, they took 15,000 taka and a smartphone from me. They then threatened me not to tell anyone.'

Law enforcement sources say the criminals sometimes disguise themselves as hawkers, easy-bike drivers, day labourers or street children to conceal their identity. Acting in groups when they get a chance, they commit the crime and quickly leave the area. Their activity is seen most at the bus terminal, the town's entry points, roads adjoining the beach and places where tourists move most.

Information about Rohingya teenagers being involved in several groups has also been found. A Rohingya teenager named Hasan Sharif said many teenagers, alongside yaba, inhale the solution or gum used to repair vehicle tyres and tubes and shoes as a drug. To raise money for drugs, some of them become involved in snatching, theft and drug selling. Experts say that, as a border district, the easy availability of drugs is one reason teenage crime is rising.

There are allegations that some influential persons, identified criminals and so-called 'big brothers' patronise them. There are also allegations that teenagers are used to gather people for political programmes, occupy land, intimidate opponents or in personal disputes. In return, there are allegations of assurances of money, drugs, shelter and patronage, and legal help.

HM Nazrul Islam, member secretary of the Cox's Bazar Nagorik Andolon, said: 'The lack of family supervision and the use of teenagers by some unscrupulous people in neighbourhoods for their own interests are making them prone to crime. Proper guidance for adolescent boys, supervision by families and educational institutions, and involving them in sports and social activities are essential. At the same time, those who use teenagers to commit crimes must also be brought under the law.'

Teen gang activity is also affecting the tourism business. Arfin, a businessman at Sugandha Point, said: 'Even in the tourist season, we have to do business at night with extra caution. Many tourists do not want to go to secluded parts of the beach after evening.'

Police have recently intensified drives to control teen gangs, snatching and drugs. In 24 hours, Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station raided various crime-prone areas of the town and arrested 36 people. Police said locally made weapons, banned drugs and money from drug sales were seized at that time.

Sadar Model Police Station OC Sheikh Mohammad Ali said: 'Police are conducting regular drives to prevent theft, robbery and the spread of drugs. Legal action is being taken by filing cases against the arrested persons under the applicable sections. Such drives will continue to ensure public safety.'

Md Marufat Husain, police superintendent of the Tourist Police's Cox's Bazar region, said drives are under way to arrest floating criminals and snatchers on the beach and that the Tourist Police is working to ensure tourists' safety. So far this year, 55 floating criminals and 15 snatchers have been arrested. Ten snatched mobile phones have been recovered.

Conscious circles say arrests or drives alone are not enough to stop teen gang activity. Alongside preventing the spread of drugs, supervision in families and educational institutions must be increased, dropout teenagers identified, and counselling and involvement in sports and social activities arranged. They have also demanded that the adults and patrons involved in committing crimes by using teenagers be identified and acted against.