It was iftar time. Construction worker Azizul Hakim was coming to the capital by a bus when two bearded passengers offered him food. Thinking them to be good Samaritans, he accepted their food.

It was only when Hakim woke up at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) about 15 hours later, did he realise that he had been drugged and the two men had robbed him of his mobile phone and cash.

Hakim is one of the many victims of dope gangs, popularly known as" ogyan party". According to law enforcers, these gangs have become very active in the capital and its outskirts, targeting mainly passengers of public transport and pedestrians.

About 50 victims of these gangs were treated at DMCH alone since Ramadan started, said sources.

The duty doctor at DMCH said Hakim was lucky that the strong sedatives he had been given were flushed out of his body quickly.

"People with weaker kidneys often take days to

regain strength and consciousness," said the doctor.

As roads become increasingly crowded ahead of Eid, these gangs rob people after drugging them by mixing strong sedatives with their food at iftar or sehri, said an official of Detective Branch of police.

Since the beginning of Ramadan, law enforcers arrested at least 40 members of these gangs.

Talking to The Daily Star, Hakim said, "I was lucky that some of my co-workers were travelling with me on the bus." His co-workers had rushed him to the hospital.

However, Delwar Hossain, a private service holder, was not so lucky. He fell victim to one of these dope gangs last year. Delwar still finds it difficult to raise his right arm.

When he had regained consciousness at a hospital, doctors there told him that he tore a ligament in his right arm when he fell after being knocked unconscious by the sedatives.

Cautioning Dhaka residents, Joint Commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Monirul Islam said people should refrain from

eating or drinking anything offered by strangers.

He claimed around six people died last Ramadan after falling victim to these gangs.

Monirul Islam, however, said the number of dope gangs operating this Ramadan decreased to about six from 20 last Ramadan.

He said the number decreased due to frequent drives by mobile courts.

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque instructed DMP authorities to increase vigilance to identify and arrest muggers, extortionists, dope gang members and other criminals, said a press release of the Police Headquarters.

Last week, five members of dope gangs were sentenced to different terms in jail after being arrested in Banglamotor.

The sentences range from three to six months in jail, said DB Deputy Commissioner (South) Mashruqur Rahman, who conducted the drive.

On the first day of Ramadan, 21 members of these gangs were sentenced to different terms in jail after being arrested in different places of the capital, said police.