The growing incidents of hijacking egg-carrying vehicles over the last two years have stoked concerns among traders, but the ring goes scot free.
Between 2013 and now, traders and wholesalers said, a total of 40 eggs-laden trucks fell prey to hijacks while transporting the item, widely consumed in urban areas.
Wholesalers at Tejgaon said around eight trucks were hijacked until November this year from different highways and roads, causing more than Tk 2.0 million losses.
Traders said they have approached the law enforcement agencies in view of the rise in such crimes, but in vain.
"We find ourselves in a difficult situation to run our business following the rise in incidents hijacks," chief advisor of Tejgaon Egg Traders Association (TETA) Masum Khan told the FE.
He demanded more vigilance by the highway police and also wanted the home ministry's intervention to put a lid on hijacks.
Incidents of hijacks started taking root in 2012, with one vehicle coming under attack. Suddenly, it increased last year and about 32 egg-carrying vehicles were hijacked.
So far this year, hijackers attempted to snatch 35 egg-carrying trucks, of which 8 trucks were hijacked. Only two of the vehicles were rescued.
In the past, hijackers were forced to leave the vehicles, because they found it difficult to sell the spoils in the market.
Now, they can sell the eggs in connivance with a section of dishonest traders.
Traders said they are feeling insecure while moving eggs from farms to the market.
"Workers and drivers remain panicky. They are losing interest in getting involved in egg transportation," one trader said.
"Every day, we are under risk," said the TETA leader, adding that a van with 30,000 eggs was hijacked on November 10 on the way to Laksam from Savar and it is not yet possible to rescue the vehicle.
Traders say the main hijacking hotbeds are Mirzapur, Kaliakoir , Dhaka EPZ area, Ashulia Beribadh, Mirpur, Hotapara, Mohakhali Flyover, Airport Road, New Market, High Court Mazar, Paribagh and Minto Road.
A truck can carry 80,000 to 90,000 pieces of eggs while larger ones can carry about 150,000.
Tarek Ahmed, a senior official Detective Branch (DB), said they have already arrested a few hijackers from different spots.
He said it is not yet possible to net the gang of hijackers, but the drive continues.
Nearly 6.0 to 6.5 million eggs enter the Tejgaon market every day which is supplied to the big markets, the association data showed.
Some 150,000 poultry farms in the country can meet the daily requirement of around 22.5 million pieces of eggs.
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