Take action to stop RMG cargo theft

The suspicious handling of a suspected mastermind behind a series of highway robberies involving export-bound RMG products has once again highlighted how highway safety, particularly that of cargo trucks, is still ignored by the authorities. The mastermind in question is Md Shahed alias Sayeed, who was arrested in 2021 for his involvement in the theft of RMG products on their way to the Chattogram port. According to a police statement then, Shahed led highway gangs that stole apparel products from at least 5,000 lorries for around two decades. Yet, in a recently submitted charge sheet in one of the cases filed in this connection, he was downgraded to "accused no. 7" among a group of eight.

The question is, why would police go against their own statement? Why would they submit a charge sheet without naming a mastermind? On the face of it, this seems to be an example of weaknesses in the investigative process. A criminal lawyer told The Daily Star that recovery of the stolen goods and confessional statements from other accused robbers would have been sufficient to prove whether Shahed was the mastermind. But as we know from experience, flawed investigations are often down to underhand dealings, where investigators show leniency in exchange for bribe, etc. But there is a bigger issue at play here: the threat that unchecked cargo theft poses to our RMG industry, which must ship products on time and in full.

Last month, the BGMEA president also highlighted the problem at a press conference, saying about 20-22 cases of theft occurred on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in 2022 alone. This, according to him, is posing a serious threat to the RMG sector. "There are gangs who are committing the same crime over and over again and getting away with them without any punishment," he said, adding that often they are abetted by dishonest employees of the industry, buying houses, shipping lines and C&F agents. He also called for severe penalties for organised cargo thieves, amending the law if necessary.

The recommendation for amending the law deserves consideration. According to police and Rab, there are about 10-12 gangs involved in stealing "30-40 percent" of the apparel products, mainly from major consignments, carried to the Chattogram port for shipment. As well as RMG products, cargos of other kinds and passenger buses are also vulnerable on the highways. This is clearly an organised crime, yet miscreants behind cargo theft are charged with "regular theft", which is a bailable offence with a maximum punishment of three years in jail. They usually secure bail within days of their arrest, and get back to the crime.

We must put an end to this cycle. We urge the authorities to take this issue seriously and improve highway security. They must especially take action against RMG robbers and put to rest the concerns of the industry, so that it can prosper further.