Chattogram’s deteriorating law-and-order situation has taken a darker and more disturbing turn, with senior police insiders now suggesting that covert links between members of the force and criminal networks may be enabling armed gangs and terrorist cells to operate with impunity.
This possibility has emerged as a central focus of an internal investigation currently being conducted by the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), following a sharp escalation in violence across the port city.
“We are investigating whether criminals have contact with some members of the police,” CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz told TIMES of Bangladesh, confirming that suspected internal collusion is now being formally examined as part of the inquiry into the recent spike in attacks.
The city has been reeling from a series of deadly and high-profile incidents. At least 50 people have been killed in recent violence, including top-listed terrorist Sarwar Hossain Babla, whose brazen murder sent shockwaves through the community. Earshad Ullah, a senior BNP leader and an MP candidate, also sustained serious injuries in an attack, further intensifying public fear and political tension.
Criminals studying the force
According to CMP sources, militant and criminal groups are actively mapping the city’s new police leadership at field level, following recent reshuffles carried out under a lottery-based posting system. The reshuffles were introduced by the government to prevent entrenched influence and maintain neutrality ahead of the upcoming general election, but investigators believe criminals are exploiting the transitional period.
Sources say gangs are studying patrol routines, deployment strategies, and internal vulnerabilities, using the lack of continuity in field-level command to their advantage. The transfer of veteran officers has created a critical knowledge gap on the ground—one that criminal networks appear to be systematically exploiting.
This, investigators say, has coincided with a rise in coordinated attacks, suggesting that militant groups are not only emboldened but increasingly well-informed about the city’s security infrastructure.
Heavy firepower, hard questions
Facing mounting intelligence failures and a surge in violent crime, CMP leadership has responded with an aggressive show of force—one that critics say may be as symbolic as it is risky.
Commissioner Aziz has ordered frontline units to carry submachine guns (SMGs) set to burst-fire mode and to open fire immediately on armed criminals and terrorists. The directive, transmitted through wireless messages, effectively sidelines traditional shotguns and older rifles in favour of rapid-fire weapons.
CMP officials insist that SMGs will only be used against armed threats. However, critics argue that firepower alone cannot compensate for intelligence lapses, internal weaknesses, and suspected leaks. They warn that such orders raise the risk of collateral harm while blurring lines of accountability at a time when public trust in policing is already under strain.
The number of permanent and semi-permanent checkpoints has also been increased from seven to thirteen. Officials say this will improve response time, but observers describe the move as reactive rather than strategic, noting that criminals appear to be staying one step ahead of enforcement.
CMP officials privately acknowledge that while shoot-on-sight–style directives increase pressure on criminals, they may not address the deeper problem of how armed groups continue to evade arrest.
Leaks inside the ranks
Internal breaches have become one of the most troubling aspects of the crisis. CMP officials have confirmed multiple instances of sensitive operational information leaking into the public domain, undermining both active and planned operations.
In one case, a constable was arrested for allegedly leaking a confidential “shoot-on-sight” order issued by Commissioner Aziz, which later surfaced on social media. Several internal briefings and tactical instructions are also believed to have been exposed externally before operations could be executed, prompting the force to tighten its communication protocols.
This week, the crisis deepened further when several members of CMP’s Intelligence Division were accused of robbing a gold trader of a consignment of gold. CMP sources confirmed that the officers involved have been identified, and steps are now underway to trace their whereabouts and take action.
Investigators are currently combing through call logs, duty rosters, and intelligence access lists to identify possible points of collusion, while also reviewing the chain of custody for sensitive information.
A message from the underworld
Last week’s gunfire attack on the residence of a prominent Chattogram industrialist has added a chilling new dimension to the city’s security breakdown. The attackers sprayed the house with shotgun pellets, allegedly over long-standing extortion demands, and fled before police units could respond.
The incident has intensified fears that criminal groups are not only emboldened but dangerously well-informed, with apparent knowledge of patrol schedules and enforcement gaps.
Commissioner Aziz disclosed that the industrialist had been facing extortion threats for an extended period, prompting police to establish a temporary checkpoint in the area under Chakbazar police station. However, the checkpoint was recently withdrawn after a new officer-in-charge was appointed through the lottery-based reshuffle.
According to the commissioner, it is likely that the newly posted OC was not fully aware of the existing security arrangement, inadvertently creating a window that criminals appear to have exploited.
The sequence of events has raised unsettling questions within law enforcement circles: was the withdrawal merely an administrative lapse, or did attackers act with advance knowledge of a weakened security posture?
What comes next
Commissioner Aziz has vowed that no stone will be left unturned in identifying police personnel who may have aided criminals, either through active collusion or negligence. He says robust measures are now in place to tighten internal security while confronting violent groups head-on.
But with militant networks closely monitoring the force’s movements, insiders say the next phase of the crisis will hinge on whether CMP can seal intelligence leaks, rebuild internal cohesion, and adapt to the evolving tactics of urban militants.
