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As the clock strikes midnight in Bangladesh's Dhaka, Rani and her friends, armed with hockey sticks, iron rods, and even plastic pipes, could be seen patrolling their neighbourhood every day. With police personnel absent in Dhaka streets following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 amid widespread looting and targeting of minorities, youths have decided to take matters into their own hands and protect their communities.
The streets of the Hindu Colony of Old Dhaka, which once bustled with life, are now deserted, with a handful of young men patrolling the area. These youths, members of the Hindu community, have formed a vigilante group to guard against potential attacks on their homes and temples.
Since August 5, there have been over 200 instances of attacks on Hindus. Five Hindus have been killed and there have been several cases of sexual assault. Attacks on temples and targeted looting of shops owned by Hindus have also been reported.
Dhaka has, in fact, turned into Gotham, a fictional city that is protected by Batman, a vigilante comics character.
"Our population here is around 5,000. We are guarding our colony because the situation in Bangladesh has changed. Hindu houses and temples are being looted, and that's why we are on guard every night," Madan Ravidas, a local youth, told India Today.
"We question anyone who comes from outside to ensure our safety," he further said.
As the sun sets, the youths go out with sticks to patrol the main road and the roads connecting the colonies. Vehicles entering the neighbourhood are searched thoroughly.
Another youth, Charan Ravidas, said after Sheikh Hasina left the country, the situation had changed and a lot of injustice was perpetrated against the minorities.
"Lakhs of our sisters and daughters have been mistreated. So, we guard the whole night so that our mothers, sisters and our area remain safe," Ravidas said.
Similar scenes play out in middle-class and upper-class neighbourhoods as well, where youths have sacrificed their sleep to ensure peace.
Rani, one of the patrollers, said they have organised themselves into groups and coordinated on WhatsApp to ensure round-the-clock surveillance.
"We have caught several robbers during our patrols and handed them over to the Army," Rani said. "The biggest reason behind forming this self-defence force is that we want to protect our families and our area. The police are not present on the streets, and in such a situation, thieves and dacoits are taking advantage," she told India Today.
In another neighbourhood, Wali and his friends could be found guarding the streets with iron rods and sticks. After midnight, vehicles are searched and unknown people are questioned.
"We have not slept after August 5... It is necessary to do this so that no suspicious or anti-social element comes to our area because the situation in Bangladesh is currently tense," he said.
Last month, Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government deployed police personnel in large numbers to quell the student protests against a controversial quota system for government jobs. However, after Hasina fled to India, police abandoned their posts amid a wave of retaliatory attacks.
Not only residential areas, youths could also be seen guarding major roads and highways. Donning traffic uniforms and carrying sticks, school and college students are seen managing traffic and looking out for any suspicious activities.
Islam Chowdhury, a first-year BA student, has taken on the role of inspecting vehicles on the national highway, ensuring that no one enters the city with 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 witnessed across Dhaka, where there is hardly a street corner left unguarded. The youths of Dhaka have become the first line of defence, sacrificing their sleep to safeguard their communities.
