Livestock theft syndicate runs rampant in Meghna chars

Cattle and buffalo thefts have become a nightly menace in remote chars of the River Meghna in Lakshmipur, with owners alleging that organised gangs are stealing livestock and attacking those who try to resist.

Locals said the gangs operate across the chars of Lakshmipur and neighbouring Bhola. 

Several cattle owners said they are suffering heavy financial losses as livestock theft has become a regular occurrence. They also alleged that law enforcement agencies are reluctant to conduct operations in the remote chars because the areas fall under different administrative jurisdictions.

On 29 July, a group of armed thieves allegedly attacked a buffalo herd in a Meghna char and took away buffaloes, cash and mobile phones after injuring seven people.

Farm owners said several thefts have occurred recently. Five buffaloes worth around Tk10 lakh were reportedly stolen from the herd of Tofail Ahmed of Char Ramoni Mohan union. About a month ago, six buffaloes belonging to Matin Bepari of Megha Char were allegedly stolen. Two more buffaloes, belonging to farmers Shahin and Mujib Ulya, were also reportedly stolen from the same area.

Locals said the chars have long been controlled by groups involved in cattle theft and robbery. They alleged that old groups, including the Chhayal, Sarkar and Alamgir groups, remain active under different names and identities.

The remote location of the chars has also created difficulties for law enforcement agencies. The Meghna chars include areas under Lakshmipur, Bhola and Barisal, and victims alleged that agencies often refer them to offices in other districts.

Although the Coast Guard has an office at Majuchoudhuri Hat in Lakshmipur, victims alleged that personnel do not conduct operations without instructions from their headquarters in Bhola.

Lakshmipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi said police would investigate and take legal action if a written complaint was submitted.

He said a suspected thief had been arrested last week and added that some incidents were linked to land disputes. Police would coordinate with their counterparts in Bhola and Barisal to address the issue, he said.

Bhola Superintendent of Police Md Shahidullah Kawsar said they were not aware of the reported attack in the Bhola part of the char. “If we receive a written complaint, legal action will be taken following an investigation,” he said.