Car Stolen from Dhaka University During World Cup Screening

A football enthusiast lost his private car while visiting the bustling Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area of Dhaka University to watch a World Cup match. The brazen theft occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 16 July 2026, in the vicinity of the university’s Hakim Chattar. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage captured the entire incident, revealing a highly coordinated operation where three individuals managed to flee with the vehicle in a matter of minutes. Although a formal case has been registered at the Shahbagh Police Station, law enforcement officials have yet to apprehend any suspects or recover the stolen vehicle.

The victim, Hafizar Rahman, recounted the distressing timeline of the event. He had arrived at the campus late on Thursday night accompanied by his wife to absorb the vibrant public screening atmosphere at TSC. At approximately 1:50 am, Mr Rahman parked his car at a designated spot adjacent to Rokeya Hall. His absence lasted a mere twenty minutes. Upon returning to the parking spot at around 2:10 am, he discovered to his utter disbelief that the vehicle had vanished.

Seeking immediate assistance, the victim approached the university administration. Security personnel subsequently reviewed the surveillance tapes, which exposed the slick mechanics of the crime. The footage showed a trio of thieves executing a calculated plan. Two of the culprits arrived and departed on a motorcycle, acting as scouts and lookouts, whilst the third accomplice managed to breach the vehicle’s security system. The primary suspect then started the engine and drove the stolen saloon car towards the Nilkhet intersection, successfully evading campus security.

Following the theft, the victim’s father, Samsul Haque, filed a criminal complaint at the Shahbagh Police Station on Friday morning. Recognising the complexity of tracking professional car theft syndicates, the family submitted a formal application to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner on Sunday. The petition requests an official transfer of the case to the Detective Branch (DB) of police for a more rigorous, specialised investigation.

Mr Rahman expressed profound shock at the lapse of security within the prestigious institution. Having been associated with the campus for years as an alumnus of the Dhaka University Laboratory School and College, he maintained that the university grounds had historically been considered a safe haven. He remarked that he had never previously heard of a private car being stolen so effortlessly from the heart of the university campus during a heavily attended public event.

Responding to queries regarding campus safety, the Proctor of Dhaka University, Associate Professor Israfil Ratan, stated that the administration had extended all possible cooperation to the victim, including immediate access to security footage. In light of growing concerns over the influx of unauthorised vehicles and outsiders during major public events, the proctorial body has taken steps to overhaul the existing security apparatus. A formal proposal has been forwarded to the higher university administration advocating for the installation of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) surveillance cameras equipped with automated registration plate recognition at all major entry and exit points of the campus.