Two recent incidents shocked the nation to disbelief. The first incident took place in Sylhet on May 22, 2026. RAB constable Imon Acharya was stabbed to death in Sylhet by a snatcher when he tried to grab hold of the criminal with his two bare hands. While walking in civil dress near Kotwali Police Station, he attempted to catch a fleeing drug dealer and snatcher. During a physical scuffle, the suspect stabbed him in the chest. Imon was rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was detained by the police.
The second incident happened in the infamous Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda, Chattogram on 19 January 2026 during a cleanup operation. Report says, RAB Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Md Motaleb Hossain Bhuiyan was killed during an operation in the remote hilly enclave of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
The RAB team was ambushed by a mob that had been summoned via loudspeaker announcements, resulting in hundreds of locals violently attacking the officers. Motaleb was critically beaten and later died at Chattogram CMH. Three other RAB personnel were severely injured.
Serious crimes like armed robbery including rape and murder are being committed by a section of hardened criminals in the country almost on a daily basis. Some crime watchers are of the opinion that there is a strong possibility that criminals who have been ‘allowed’ to escape from prisons after 5 August 2024, are behind such heinous felonies.
It is believed that they may have come across the lethal weapons looted from various police stations during the mass uprising and after the fall of the Awami League government when lawlessness was rampant in the country. The most worrying fact for the citizens is that murder of men, women and children has become an everyday affair in Bangladesh. The reports with gory details that appear in newspapers and news channels are as chilling and unsettling as any classic horror story.
According to a report published by the police head office, in the month of April 2026, as many as 288 murders have taken place in the country, of which 68 in Dhaka range alone. To be more specific, 17 murder incidents have taken place in Dhaka Metropolitan area in one month. The next murder-prone district is Chattogram claiming 54 victims.
Statistically, Bangladesh has seen a 14% increase in nationwide murder cases since 2024. Police link the spike in murders to shifts in political power and the resurgence of organied criminal networks in major hubs like Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna. In tandem, there was a deeply concerning surge in mob violence and atrocities committed on women and children. Human rights organisations note that mob violence and lynching alone claim dozens of lives monthly.
High-profile incidents of kidnapping for ransom and violent extortion rackets continue to threaten local business owners and citizens. From cities this scourge has now travelled to the rural areas.
The spike in gender-based violence has become a cause of concern. Organisations like the Human Rights Support Society and Ain o Salish Kendra report high rates of violence against women and children, including rise in reported rape cases. The rate of infanticide has gone up alarmingly in small towns and villages.
The other cause of concern is the proliferation of Kishore Gang or juvenile criminal gangs in the country. They are terrorising some localities with impunity and getting involved in illegal activities like drug selling and extortion. The trend of taking the law into one’s own hands has resulted in hundreds of criminal offences by juveniles over the past 16 months.
Victims mostly avoid going to the police for many known and unknown reasons.
Financial and Cyber Crime are two newly added crimes to the list. Cyber-enabled crimes, including phishing, identity theft, and digital banking fraud, are proliferating due to the rapid expansion of fintech.
Organised market syndicates are aggressively utilising technology-enabled methods to traffic goods and commit financial crimes.
There is no doubt, the country’s law and order situation has reached an alarming state. Since the political transition in August last year, the capital has seen a sharp rise in violent crimes: mugging, extortion, kidnapping and murders. These have rattled public confidence. The recent surge in these incidents’ points to a disturbing erosion of law and order. Despite a number of measures from the authorities, the situation remains precarious.
Police Headquarters reported that the first four months of this year saw robbery cases nearly double, while dacoity and murder cases have almost tripled compared to the same period last year. These crimes are not just frequent; they are increasingly brazen. Victims are being attacked in broad daylight.
More troubling is the fact that in many cases, police action has come only after video footage of these incidents went viral. One mugging victim from Nikunja who was attacked with machetes, said police initially refused to act on his complaint. Citizens feel such reactive policing must change. Why should police action depend on social media pressure and your connections at the top?
The re-emergence of notorious criminals further complicates the crisis. One of the country’s most feared terrorists with a long criminal history was recently arrested in Kushtia along with key associates. They were found in possession of firearms and ammunition. But the question remains – how a convicted killer with an Interpol notice, allowed to roam freely demanding extortion money in Maghbazar just months ago?
Another top terrorist’s name has been linked to recent murders in Hatirjheel and Gulshan. Law enforcement sources have also confirmed that several top terrorists were released on bail after the August change in power. How were such high-risk individuals allowed out, especially when bail is a challenge for many accused in minor cases?
Despite reassurances from the government that these individuals are under watch, there is little evidence of sustained monitoring or re-arrest efforts. No doubt public confidence is eroding fast, and this should be addressed by the high-ups.
The people of Dhaka cannot be expected to live in a state of perpetual fear. They deserve to walk the streets without bodyguards. This is a defining test for the present administration. Without decisive action, criminals will only grow more powerful and fearless.
On many occasions it was observed worldwide that dangerous slide in law and order has made it difficult for the governments to work in peace. A government may have to step down if criminals take law in their hands. We hope the present government will act before it is too late.
The writer is the Consulting Editor, TIMES of Bangladesh
