The Geneva Camp in the capital’s Mohammadpur, established in 1972 on 7.50 acres of land for the Biharis, has become a hotspot for crimes.

In the past year, nine people have been killed and many others injured in clashes between rival criminal groups, mainly linked to the illegal drug trade. The latest killing took place early on Thursday.

Md Zahid, son of late Md Imran Hossain, died at about 3:30am in an explosion during a clash between two groups. Zahid, the youngest of seven siblings, worked at a mobile servicing shop in Kalyanpur, said police.

Zahid’s friend Aftab Hossain said he had gone outside during the clash when “a bomb exploded near his feet, leaving him critically injured”. Zahid was first taken to a local hospital and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where duty doctors declared him dead at about 4:45am.

Kazi Rafiq Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station, told the Daily Sun that they were conducting raids to arrest those responsible.

A case would be filed soon in this connection, he further said.

The OC said nine murders had been committed in the camp in the last year. “I have joined the police station only two months ago. After joining, 1,000 criminals were arrested from the camp and 250 cases were filed against them.”

Two days before Zahid’s death, a Bangladesh Army team raided Geneva Camp and detained several people with 32 crude bombs.

According to intelligence sources, drugs are the main source of income for the criminals. About 500 drug sellers operate at roughly 30 points in the camp, selling yaba, phensedyl, ganja and heroin day and night. Drugs worth Tk 1.50 crore are sold there each year, and most clashes stem from disputes over drug money.

Zahid’s elder sister said drug traders were often arrested but quickly returned to business after securing bail.

She said a trader wanted in about 40 cases was arrested a few months ago but resumed his trade soon after being freed on bail.

She questioned “how the criminals get bail so quickly?”

In earlier years, the drug business in the camp was led by Ishtiq and Nadim. Nadim was killed in a gunfight in 2018 and Ishtiq died of Covid-19 in India. After their deaths, their associates and other groups took over the trade, said police.

Names mentioned by the police at different times include Bunia Sohel, Chua Selim, Picci Raza, Syed Puria Babu, Tuntun, Ulta Salam, Heroin Sima, Imtiaz and Pakistani Razu. The main factions are now led by Picci Raza and Bhuiyan Selim. Most recent clashes occurred between these two groups.

Crime analyst Dr Md Tawohidul Haque, also an associate professor at the Dhaka University, said, “Only the law enforcers cannot combat the crimes in Geneva Camp as it is a social problem. Due to lack of education, employment and social safety, the camp dwellers get involved in crimes.

“Continuous drives and proper charge sheet along with rehabilitation can reduce the crimes in the camp,” he said.