According to a source at Police Headquarters, 425 individuals were released on bail in May, 305 in June, and 378 in July by Dhaka courts. These accused were linked to 1,058 cases filed across 50 police stations under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Police report that some of those granted bail were directly involved in crimes, with some caught red-handed, others arrested after identification during investigations, and some detained while preparing for snatching or as suspected snatchers. Even those named in charge sheets submitted to courts have received bail.
Following the public uprising on August 5 last year, the breakdown of policing allowed snatchers to operate recklessly in several parts of the capital. During this period, incidents of people being killed by snatchers were also reported. On April 21, a 22-year-old named Md. Arman Hossain was killed by snatchers’ knife attacks in the Tejgaon industrial area. His family stated that he was murdered for resisting the snatching attempt. Court sources indicate that from August last year to March, seven people were killed by snatchers in the capital.
In the aftermath of the uprising, many neighborhoods in Dhaka organized community night patrols. As police operations gradually normalized, anti-snatching drives were resumed. Alongside the police, the armed forces also intensified operations, leading to the arrest of numerous snatchers and miscreants across various areas.
A senior DMP official stated, “We are making significant efforts to apprehend offenders, but many are released on bail within a short time. They then return to snatching, forcing us to pursue the same criminals repeatedly.” A source at Police Headquarters noted that field-level officers have repeatedly complained that snatchers released on bail re-engage in crime. Consequently, snatching cases have been placed under special monitoring each month, with data on cases, arrests, and bail being maintained, revealing a significant number of suspects being released.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said, “Instructions have been given to ensure effective measures from the police to secure convictions following anti-snatching drives and arrests. However, the role of the prosecution branch and state lawyers in court is crucial to ensuring punishment for actual offenders.” He added that relevant police branches have been directed to play an effective role in this regard.
In May, of the 425 released on bail, 215 were suspects, 131 were named in FIRs, and 16 were arrested after investigations confirmed their involvement. In June, 150 of the 305 released were named in FIRs. Even charge-sheeted accused have received bail. For example, on March 20, Uttara West Police arrested four individuals in Abdullahpur preparing for snatching-dacoity, recovering machetes, knives, and daggers. A charge sheet was submitted, yet one accused, Rubel Miya (23), was granted bail last month.
Lawyers note that preventing bail before the investigation is complete is challenging, as bail is considered a citizen’s right until conviction. However, ensuring punishment for actual offenders remains a challenge. The prosecution branch and state lawyers’ role in opposing bail with strong evidence is critical, but allegations of weak arguments in court exist. Additionally, police are accused of filing cases under incorrect sections or linking snatchers to older cases without properly presenting the offense details. Slow investigations further complicate the process. Police Headquarters has issued directives to address these issues, ensuring cases are filed under appropriate sections and charge sheets are submitted promptly.
On April 15, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Zakir Hossain noted in an order that many cases lack detailed descriptions of the accused’s involvement, creating grounds for bail. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court’s Chief Public Prosecutor, Omar Faruk Faruki, stated, “Bail is generally not granted if an accused is caught red-handed or has prior cases. However, suspects cannot be detained for years. Most get bail after five to six months.” He added that investigations typically take at least a year to complete, delaying the prosecution’s role, which underscores the need for accurate FIRs and timely charge sheets.
