Over the last six months, at least 20 Bangladeshi youths in the United Kingdom have been sentenced for their involvement with drug trade. Many have gotten involved in gang fights and the crime rates amongst them have spikes significantly, especially in Tower Hamlets Council which is densely populated with Bangladeshis.
Community leaders have attributed the sudden rise in the fatal stabbing and mugging incidents to the Theresa May administration’s decision to make cuts in the public security department.
Just last week a Bangladeshi youth was stabbed to death. There have been several instances where both the victim and their attacker was Bangladeshi.
The drug addiction, stealing, gang culture, mugging and stabbing have increased among the youths, especially in London’s Tower Hamlets have increased at an alarming rate.
On May 26, 23-year-old Alimuzzaman Alam was stabbed to death at St Paul’s Way in Tower Hamlet. Another man was injured in during the attack.
According to UK based media outlet Evening Standard Alimuzzaman was attacked on his way back from buying iftar.
The deceased’s brother Kamruzzaman told Bangla Tribune that just hours before the attack, Alimizzaman mediated a heated argument between two groups.
“Since one of the groups didn’t agree with the solution they attacked him and ran away,” he said.
The police have detained four people in relation and although their identities haven’t been revealed, London Metro Police said that two of them are 23 and the other two are 19 years old.
Community leader KM Abu Taher who has become increasingly worried about the situation said that making cost cuts in the public security department and lack of police security in Tower Hamlets has led to it.
He has emphasised on social awareness and active family roles to tackle the situation.
Tower Hamlets Council Deputy Speaker and Labour Party councillor Ahbab Hossain has attested that crime rate among Bangladeshi youth has increased alarmingly but refuses to blame the council alone.
“The reasons crime rate is going out of hand is that many recreational centres for youth at the council has been shut down and the cost cut in public security,” he said.
He said that things would get worse if the rampant increase in drug trade amongst youth wasn’t controlled and that the council was working to bring the situation under control.