Crime Rate in Bangladesh Escalates Under Yunus-led Interim Administration

Synopsis

As crime rates in Bangladesh surge alarmingly, police data reveals significant increases in murder, abduction, robbery, burglary, and theft incidents in January compared to the past six years, contradicting claims of satisfactory law and order by the interim government.

Key Takeaways

Crime rates in Bangladesh are at their highest in six years.
Police data shows 294 murder cases in January.
Mugging and robbery incidents peaked in January.
Residents live in fear due to rising crime.
Students protested for public safety and accountability.

Dhaka, Feb 25 (NationPress) The crime rate in Bangladesh is rising at a concerning level, as indicated by police statistics. In January, incidents of murder, abduction, robbery, burglary, and theft have all experienced a significant increase nationwide, marking the highest rates seen in the past six years.

This data sharply contradicts the interim government's Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury's assertion that the law and order situation is satisfactory in Bangladesh, as reported by local media.

Statistics from the police headquarters indicate that at least 294 murder cases were recorded at various police stations in January this year. An examination of monthly crime data over the previous six years shows that the highest number of mugging and robbery incidents in a single month was recorded in January 2025, with 242 reported cases, according to the country's leading newspaper, The Daily Star.

Furthermore, police data shows that incidents of mugging, robbery, and abduction also increased in December and November last year compared to the same months over the last five years.

In response to the government’s claim of normalcy, a criminology professor in Bangladesh raised concerns, asking, "Are these crimes, which instill fear among the public, genuinely a sign of satisfaction?"

The residents of Bangladesh are living in constant anxiety about the possibility of becoming victims of murder, theft, mugging, or burglary, while the government seems indifferent and unprepared to address the ongoing crisis, as reported by The Daily Star.

In another incident, multiple violent crimes were reported in various areas of Dhaka on Sunday night within just a few hours.

Many individuals took to social media to voice their outrage over the inefficacy of law enforcement, as videos of criminals attacking residents with firearms and cleavers circulated widely.

Similarly, conditions outside Dhaka are reported to be equally unstable, contributing to a growing sense of fear and insecurity among the populace, making people hesitant to leave their homes.

In the meantime, several students organized a protest march towards the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday, demanding the resignation of officials for their failure to ensure public safety and for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, according to local media reports.