Alarming Tides of Youth Gangs -Abu Mohammad Shahed

In recent times, there has been an unfortunate rise in the use of youth gangs for various purposes, including political activities, gatherings, and demonstrations. Regardless of party affiliations, citizens are concerned about the influence of these gangs, especially in urban and rural areas. The involvement of young people in activities such as terrorism, vandalism, and drug trafficking has sparked discussions about their role in creating disorder.

Notably, during protests for better wages in the garment industry, teenagers were observed participating in acts of violence and destruction. At the time of the recently concluded 12th National Assembly elections, the actions of youth gangs have become increasingly questionable and concerning. Reports suggest that these gangs were seen engaging in criminal activities and different kinds of unexpected events with the collective efforts of some leaders of the ruling parties. It is crucial to address these issues while maintaining a balanced perspective, as it is a very concerning point in the question of the bright future of their lives as well as that of the country.

According to various media reports, research results, and public opinion, the lack of family-social-religious discipline, the bad influence of non-politics or attempts to dominate, the promotion of people who lack money and power in immoral and illegal ways, and the youth gang subculture under the influence of militants, terrorists, drug addicts, and corrupt politicians have reached unbearable levels. Many of the poor, deprived of education and work; oppressed individuals and families; and even the children of the lower and upper classes are victims of this bad culture.

The conflicting interaction of the overnight or short-term rise of immoral abundance, on the one hand, and the vast distance of achievement compared to expectations, on the other hand, is driving this subculture. The so-called ‘Big Brother’ holders are somehow able to gain the ominous patronage of various political parties by using these ignorant, mostly naive children and teenagers to create an anarchic situation. The direct participation of youths in the heinous process of acquiring their wealth further worsens the situation.

According to analysts, the teenage gang culture has taken on a sinister shape under political party support. By bringing the youth together, some despicable persons of corrupt character are involving the youth in various crimes. Behind these youth gangs, there are some local-level criminal gangs and some political leaders. They are taking the opportunity to commit crimes with the youth at an easy and low cost. Following their arrest by law enforcement for various crimes, these criminals receive legal assistance from the sheltered political leaders. Some political leaders are creating youth gangs to attack their opponents. They were also fueling the creation of new gangs to exploit the 12th National Assembly elections. Intelligence agencies have found the existence of gang culture in 64 districts of the country.

In 2017, the youth gang culture in the country was exposed to the public through the killing of students in the capital’s Uttara and its rapid spread across the country. A number of youth gang members have been arrested at various times for their involvement in various criminal activities, including murders, across the country. According to media sources, data analysis of a meeting of top law enforcement officers held at the Bangladesh Police Headquarters on the situation of youth gangs in July last year shows that from January 2020 to March 2023, 225 cases have been filed against youth gang members across the country. Those members are separate members of 110 gangs. The number of members of the gangs is about 1000. During the mentioned period, 529 members of various gangs, aged between 13 and 17 years, were arrested. It was also said in the meeting that the youth gang members are involved in area-based drug dealing, consumption, supply, robbery, extortion, theft, extortion, and even murder.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) lists 52 youth gangs and has around 700 members. The most gangs are in Mirpur, Dhaka. According to DMP data, there are 172 active members of 13 youth gangs in the Mirpur division of the police. There are fears that the situation will worsen if various political parties and candidates support these gangs. Political parties and candidates are using them for their individual work. That’s really shocking.

According to Chittagong Metropolitan Police, at least half a hundred murders have taken place through the collective gatherings and initiatives of youth gangs in the last five years. Apart from the terrible activity of youth gangs in the Chandgaon area of the city, their activity is also evident in Jamal Khan and Chawkbazar wards. In 300 spots of 41 wards of Chittagong City Corporation, especially the rising youth are being included in gangs through so-called older brothers. They are involved in various crimes, including drug trade, yaba consumption, and motorcycle theft.
Youth gang members are indulging in killings over trivial matters. Two years ago, in Rajshahi, the cybercrime unit of the police created a database of more than 500 youth gang members. After a video of armed teenagers dancing in Rajshahi went viral on October 27, 11 of them were identified, and some were arrested by the police. Police sources confirmed that these teenagers have already committed many serious criminal activities. Similarly, 25–30 youth gangs went on a reckless rampage in Jessore City too.

The Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation (BHRF) hosted a seminar on October 21, 2023, with the theme “Role of Administration, Political Parties, and Media in Controlling Youth Gangs and What We Can Do.” The speakers claimed that, in the absence of political will, the law’s strictness will only be able to control minors and those involved in gang culture crimes. It cannot be prevented. It is very important to identify the supporters behind this and bring them under the law. Some political leaders use teenagers in their political activities, which is not desirable at all.
Almost one-third of the country’s population, or 57 million children and adolescents, is illiterate. If we cannot do what is necessary for their development, then there is a great inconsistency between society and the state. Therefore, it is important to get decisions from the ruling political party to prevent youth gangs. Administration, media, teachers, students, and parents should work together to prevent youth-organized crime.

From a global perspective, it is clear that the economic collapse of the 1930s on Wall Street and related areas in the United States turned youth delinquency into a gang-based subculture. After the Second World War, the devastating effects of increasing inequality created widespread anarchy in society. As a result, a large number of youth delinquents and gangs emerged from 1955 on. In some cases, because of easy access to more money and opportunities, teenagers recklessly abuse their independence. In the mid-nineteenth century, teenage gangs in the UK became involved in horrific acts of terrorism.

Perhaps ‘Ted’s’ was the first subculture in the post-war world. Later, multifaceted teenage gangs of the ‘rock n roll’ type carried the subculture forward. People shouldn’t forget the conflict between “Nine Star” and “Disco Boys” that led to the brutal murder of Adnan, a ninth-grade student at Uttara Trust School and College in Bangladesh, on January 6, 2018. Various youth gangs named ‘Big Boss’, ‘Kashmiri Group’, ‘TikTok App’, ‘First Hitter Boss’, ‘FBAH’, ‘Molla Rabbi’, and ‘Star Bond’ have been associated with these criminal organizations. In many cases, different groups have different costumes, hairstyles, and colors.

According to criminologists, attitudes of heroism work in adolescence. This heroism should be made a follower of the right path. Again, due to the political use of teenagers, a kind of gang culture has developed among them. We are all responsible for this. In many cases, foreign culture has come under their control, and it is having a negative effect. A joint initiative of teachers, parents, and public representatives of society can bring wayward teenagers back from the youth gang culture. Various correctional institutions, public-private initiatives, family-society-educational institutions, and all concerned children and adolescents need training in behavioral development suitable for physical and mental changes. An objective and honest assessment and a deep investigative approach can be useful in this regard.

It is absolutely necessary to instill the ‘ideology of Islam’ in children and adolescents in order to create a collective socio-economic future without considering any specific class occupation in the determination of youth delinquency. If the rich character traits of patriotic, honest, competent, talented, ethical, and self-sacrificing personalities, professionals, and politicians are presented to children and teenagers, it will play a role in reducing criminality among teenagers. In addition to this, children and adolescents should be encouraged in the spirit of attending various kinds of cultural activities, and they should be encouraged to attend school from an early age. In terms of having a balanced and safe life, parents should look after their children and need to have a sharp eye if their children make the mistake of making or choosing friends who are engaged in heinous activities.