Dhaka: Bangladesh is witnessing an alarming surge in crime, with police data revealing a significant rise in murder, abduction, robbery, burglary, and theft.
January 2025 recorded the worst crime rates in six years, contradicting the interim government’s assurances of a “satisfactory” law and order situation.
Police Headquarters data reported 294 murder cases in January alone.
Additionally, 242 incidents of mugging and robbery were documented, marking the highest single-month tally in six years, according to The Daily Star.
Crime rates for mugging, robbery, and abduction also spiked in December and November 2024 compared to the same period in previous years.
The grim statistics contrast sharply with the claims of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Advisor to the Yunus-led interim government, who maintained that the law and order situation remains “normal.”
Critics, however, have dismissed these assertions as disconnected from reality.
A criminology professor expressed concern over the government’s stance, stating, “Are these crimes, which instil fear among the public, truly a sign of satisfaction?”
The professor emphasised that the escalating violence is leaving citizens terrified of becoming victims, with the government seemingly unable or unwilling to address the crisis.
Adding to the tension, multiple violent crimes were reported in Dhaka on Sunday night within hours of each other.
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Videos of attackers armed with guns and cleavers targeting residents went viral, sparking outrage on social media.
Citizens voiced their frustration at the failure of law enforcement to curb the growing violence.
The law and order situation outside Dhaka is equally precarious, with widespread insecurity keeping many people indoors.
The deteriorating state of public safety has prompted protests, with several student groups marching to the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday, demanding the resignation of officials responsible for maintaining law and order.
The surge in crime has left Bangladesh grappling with a climate of fear and uncertainty, with critics urging immediate government action to restore safety and public confidence.
