Dhaka Faces Rising Motorcycle Thefts, Police Accountability Questioned

Dhaka has witnessed a surge in motorcycle thefts over the past 13 months, exposing gaps in law enforcement and raising concerns over police accountability. Victims often report that complaints are ignored, and stolen vehicles remain unrecovered, leaving business owners and residents frustrated.

One recent incident occurred last Ramadan on a Friday during Jumu’ah prayers, when a motorcycle was stolen from a residence in the Turag area. Businessman Rakibul Hasan approached the Turag Police Station to file a complaint, but the officers reportedly refused to register the case. “I submitted a written complaint instead. The police advised me to follow up after Eid,” Rakibul Hasan told Prothom Alo.

The Officer-in-Charge of Turag Police, Rafiqul Islam, stated that he was not aware of the incident and recommended that the victim contact him directly.

Similar cases are not new. Nearly one and a half years ago, Rezoul Karim, the owner of a buying house in Uttara West, had a high-value motorcycle stolen. Despite having a GPS tracker that identified the motorcycle’s location in Konabari, Gazipur, the police neither registered the case promptly nor attempted to recover the vehicle. “The police did not take any action even after I provided all necessary details,” Rezoul Karim said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman emphasised that theft cases must be properly registered and investigated. He added that officers who show negligence could face disciplinary action if formal complaints are lodged against them.

Theft Statistics in Dhaka

Despite these figures, police sources indicate that not all motorcycle thefts result in formal complaints, meaning the actual number of thefts could be significantly higher.

Investigations have revealed multiple active theft networks in Dhaka. DMP intelligence officers report at least ten gangs operating in the city, each with 5–10 members. One of the largest, led by Abul Kalam Azad from Bakerganj, Barisal, has operated for nearly 20 years, with 30–35 members and nearly 50 cases filed across the country. Another gang is led by Jasim Uddin from Shibchar, Madaripur, with 13 known cases in Dhaka.

Stolen motorcycles are often transported to remote villages and sold for between 20,000 and 100,000 BDT. To avoid recovery, thieves frequently alter engine and chassis numbers, making it difficult for authorities to trace the vehicles.

The recurring thefts, coupled with police inaction in some cases, highlight systemic issues that demand urgent attention to protect property and restore public trust in law enforcement.