Bangladeshi independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana on Monday, 9 June raised grave concern in Parliament over a sharp deterioration in law and order under the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, citing statistics from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) that recorded hundreds of murders, abductions, and cases of violence against women within the administration's first 100 days in office.

Key Figures Cited in Parliament

Addressing the legislature on a matter of urgent public importance, Rumeen Farhana said that Bangladesh recorded 605 murders, 294 muggings, 90 robberies, and 196 abductions in March and April alone. She added that police came under attack in 129 separate incidents, while 2,214 theft cases were also logged during the same period, according to The Daily Star.

On violence against women and children, Farhana noted that 3,496 abuse cases were reported during the period, including 78–102 rapes, 30–36 gang rapes, and 49–71 child rapes. 'These figures clearly show how fragile and alarming the law and order situation has become in just three months,' she said.

Home Minister's Absence Draws Rebuke

Farhana pointedly drew attention to the vacant seat of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed during the session. 'He was supposed to be present today, but his chair is empty. What can I do? I must speak in his absence,' she said. She argued that economy and law and order are the two key benchmarks for determining any government's success or failure, adding, 'Had the home minister been present, it would have been easier to spell out his failures.'

Rights Group Reports Sustained Rise in Mob Violence

The parliamentary alarm follows findings released last week by Dhaka-based rights organisation Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), which flagged serious concerns over public safety and the rule of law. According to MSF's latest report, at least 32 people were killed in separate incidents in May, while 53 unidentified bodies were recovered from various parts of the country.

The organisation also recorded 71 people critically injured in at least 69 separate incidents in May — a sharp rise from April, when 21 deaths and 49 injuries were recorded. 'The number of people killed in mob violence rose from 21 to 32 in May, reflecting a clear rise in the tendency of people to take the law into their own hands,' MSF said in its report.

A Pattern of Mounting Fatalities

MSF's data points to a sustained upward trend in fatalities through 2025–26: 10 deaths in December 2025, 18 in January, 21 in February, 19 in March, 21 in April, and 32 in May. Among the 32 deaths recorded in May, 14 were killed over allegations of theft, 4 died following altercations, and 2 each were killed over allegations of robbery and rape or sexual assault respectively.

With Parliament now formally seized of the issue and two independent organisations corroborating a worsening trend, pressure is expected to mount on the BNP government to produce a credible public safety response in the sessions ahead.