The lure of gangs

Singing a chant, playing the guitar, or browsing through social media by using free WiFi hotspots are just some of the frivolities that teens engage in with friends.

But the culture of hanging out at street corners is slowly becoming a menace in the port city as things take a turn for the worse; the youth are easily lured into drugs, mugging, eve-teasing and intimidating passer-bys with guns.

As a form of marking their territories, the 12 to 25 member gang of boys meets regularly at their designated spots -- a park, a dead alley or even in front on girls' schools and coaching centres.

Abdur Rauf, additional deputy commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), who has been dealing with gangs, said most members are 14 to 16 years old and have the support of “big-brothers”, who are typically 18 to 22 years old.

Gang leaders are the upper echelons of the gang's command. “These older boys are mostly politically affiliated and the gang gives them a sense of camaraderie. And the impressionable teens are ready to please them.”

The teens feel all grown up when the “big brothers” take them to political events and give them the opportunity to take selfies with the leaders and powerful people, said Rauf. “They then upload these photos on their social platforms for likes and comments, and gaining visibility.”

These older boys also progress in their own political agendas as they can boast about bringing 20 boys to a rally, he added.

However, things become vicious when gangs get involved in clashes.

Adnan Ispar (15), a ninth grader of Chittagong Collegiate School, was stabbed to death by a group of miscreants in the city's Jamal Khan area on January 16.

Walking across Chawkbazar, Jamal Khan and Cheragi Pahar intersection, scribbles on walls indicate the presence of gangs.

“We hang out after our coaching classes in the evenings,” a member of a teen group in Chawkbazar area told The Daily Star.

On why he feels the need to be involved in a gang, he said, “We enjoy our free time together. There are 18 members in our group. If any one of us is in any danger, we move together to save him.”

On condition of anonymity, he said the members of their group are from different schools, while their big brothers are college students.

Another gang member at the Cheragi Pahar Intersection said, “Sometimes the older boys call us to join processions and meet the political high ups. Our other friends feel envious of us when they see our pictures. We feel like heroes at school.”

The five teenagers arrested in connection with the Adnan murder case admitted to receiving guns from an older gang member, said the additional deputy commissioner.

The CMP has primarily identified 73 spots under four police stations in its south zone where the incidence of gang related crimes is the highest, said officers.

Not all individuals who display the outward signs of gang membership are actually involved in crime, they added.

“Some groups that also include girls just engage in innocent chitchats after school or coaching,” said Rauf. “We will conduct drives if we find that something unlawful is going on.”

Parents have a role to play in curbing the gang culture, said the additional deputy commissioner. “They should be cautious about their children's whereabouts.”

Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University Prof Iftekher Uddin Chowdhury, who is also a social scientist, said a social movement is necessary to eliminate the “big brother” culture.

Vice Chancellor of Premier University Chittagong Prof Dr Anupam Sen said children who are aloof from their families are more likely to get involved in such gangs.

“Our society is going through a transition. It's transforming from an agro-based society into a commerce, industries-based one. And so, some rapid changes are seen in social values and norms,” he said. “For the teens of today, leadership means to dominate and so they form gangs and go to big brothers for arms and shelter.”

Ledu Miah, a resident of Bakalia and a father of three teenage boys, said he always tries to monitor his boys' whereabouts.

“I make sure that they come back home after coaching. But when they are late, my wife or I immediately try to contact them or the institution.”

Another guardian Amir Uddin, a resident of Agrabad, said, “It is important to make sure that boys are given a lesson in morals in addition to education.”