As the clock struck midnight in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Rani and her friends could be seen armed with hockey sticks, iron rods and even plastic pipes. Patrolling your neighborhood every day. The absence of police personnel on the streets of Dhaka following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August led to widespread violence. Looting and targeting of minoritiesYoung people have decided to take matters into their own hands and protect their communities.
The streets of the Hindu colony in old Dhaka, which once bustled with activity, are now deserted, and only a handful of young men patrol the area. These young people from the Hindu community have formed a vigilante group to avoid possible attacks on their homes and temples.
There have been more than 200 incidents of attacks on Hindus since August 5. Five Hindus have been killed and several cases of sexual assault have been reported. There have also been reports of attacks on temples and targeted looting of shops owned by Hindus.
In fact, Dhaka has been transformed into Gotham, a fictional city protected by a vigilante comics character called Batman.
“Our population here is around 5,000. We are protecting our colony because the situation has changed in Bangladesh. Hindu houses and temples are being looted, so we are protecting it every night,” Madan Ravidas, a local youth, told India Today.
He further added, “We question anyone coming from outside to ensure our safety.”
As the sun sets, Youths came out with sticks to patrol the main road And the roads connecting the colonies are also monitored. Vehicles entering the area are thoroughly searched.
Another youth, Charan Ravidas, said the situation had changed after Sheikh Hasina left the country and there had been a lot of injustice against the minorities.
Ravidas said, “Millions of our sisters and daughters have been abused. That is why we keep vigil all night so that our mothers, sisters and our area remain safe.”
Similar scenes are witnessed in middle class and upper class areas too, where youth have sacrificed their sleep to ensure peace.
Rani, who is part of the patrol team, said they have organised themselves into groups and coordinated on WhatsApp to ensure round-the-clock surveillance.
“We have caught many robbers during patrolling and handed them over to the army,” Rani said. “The main reason behind the formation of this self-defence force is that we want to protect our families and our area. The police are not present on the streets and thieves and dacoits are taking advantage of this,” she told India Today.
In another area, Vali and his friends can be seen patrolling the streets with iron rods and sticks. After midnight, vehicles are searched and strangers are questioned.
He said, “We have not slept since August 5… It is necessary to do this so that no suspicious or anti-social elements enter our area as the situation in Bangladesh is tense at the moment.”
Students protect highways and major roads
Last month, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government deployed a large number of policemen to suppress student protests against the controversial quota system for government jobs. Hasina fled to IndiaThe police abandoned their posts amid counter-attacks.
Not just in residential areas, youngsters can be seen patrolling main roads and highways as well. School and college students dressed in traffic uniforms and carrying batons can be seen managing traffic and keeping an eye on any suspicious activity.
Islam Choudhary, a BA first year student, has taken up the role of inspecting vehicles on the national highway to ensure that no one enters the city carrying weapons or other dangerous items.
“We have to keep an eye on suspicious people coming from outside so that no one brings weapons or dangerous items into the city,” Islam said.
Similar scenes are seen in Dhaka, where hardly any street corner is left unguarded. Dhaka’s youth have become the first line of defence by sacrificing their sleep to protect their communities.
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