Dhaka turns into crime-prone city raising security concerns
Syed Shemul Parvez :
In the wake of political instability, mob violence, and a lack of fear of the police, the capital Dhaka is gradually becoming a crime-prone city leaving the residents in an utter state of panic.
Sources with the law enforcement agencies said killings, snatching, kidnappings and armed robberies are increasing at an alarming rate inducing a sense of insecurity. Experts warn that the situation could worsen without urgent action.
According to sources, 150 murders incidents have been reported from January to May 2025.
Two persons died in a mob beating in Darussalam area of the capital on Saturday. The incident took place around 1:00pm. Police have not yet been able to identify the deceased.
Officer in Charge (OC) of Darussalam Police Station, Kabir-ul-Hossain, told the media that preliminary information suggests the mob beating occurred in Ahmadnagar area of Darussalam due to a dispute over drug dealing. Police recovered bodies and sent them hospital for autopsy. Efforts are underway to identify the two victims.
Earlier on Sunday night (25 May), BNP leader Kamrul Ahsan Sadhan was shot dead by assailants in the Gudaraghat area of Dhaka’s Badda. He was the joint secretary of the Gulshan Thana unit of the BNP. The killers fired blank shots before fleeing, with chilling CCTV footage of the murder spreading rapidly on social media.
On the same day, another video showed that kidnappers were attacking a young man named Abdullah with a machete in broad daylight in Moghbazar.
Just last Tuesday(25 May), a money exchange trader was shot and stabbed in Mirpur-10, robbed of Tk 2.17 million, $3,500, and 1,100 Saudi riyals in a brazen daylight heist.
These three incidents, all within the past 10 days, are part of a broader wave of crime sweeping Dhaka and beyond. Criminals are operating with impunity, taking hostages, wielding firearms, and attacking with sharp weapons in public spaces.
Earlier on May 19, a youth named Shaheen was shot dead in Savar’s Bank Colony.
The previous night, a video of a young man being brutally beaten on Central Road in New Market went viral, underscoring the audacity of these crimes.
The restructuring of district and divisional law and order committees has weakened police authority, while the release of top criminals on bail after political changes on August 5 has emboldened underworld networks.
Many of these criminals, previously absconding abroad, have returned to orchestrate murders, extortions, and armed robberies to cement their dominance.
Besides, the return of notorious criminals has intensified the crisis. Trimoti Subrata Bain, a top terrorist listed by the government in 2001 with an active Interpol red notice, reappeared in Moghbazar’s Bishal Centre last September, sparking panic among traders.
His name has since been linked to extortion, murders, and injuries in the area. Though Bain and his associates Arafat and Sharif, along with another terrorist, Abu Russell Masud, were recently arrested by the army, other criminals in Moghbazar, Motijheel, Badda, and Gulshan remain at large.
Crime analyst Omar Faruk, a professor at Maulana Bhashani University, said, “The release of top criminals after August 5 posed a clear threat to public safety. We warned the police, but there’s been no effective surveillance. Criminals believe they can act without consequence, exploiting political chaos and possible ties with law enforcement syndicates.”
The Police Headquarters data paints a grim picture. From January to April 2025, Dhaka recorded 136 murders, with February alone seeing 38.
From January to April 2024, Dhaka recorded 47 murders-slightly down from 51 during the same period in 2023. In comparison, 54 murders were reported in the first four months of 2022, and 55 in 2021, showing a gradual decline in cases over the years.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) reported 1,791 cases in January, 1,566 in February, 1,754 in March, and 1,547 in April across its 50 stations. From November to April, DMP logged 139 murders, 36 robberies, 243 banditry cases, and 1,028 thefts. Many victims of theft and robbery do not file cases, suggesting the true crime rate is even higher.
Viral social media videos of sensational crimes have become a near-daily occurrence.
In this regards, a senior DMP official, speaking anonymously, said, “Raids carry risks of attack, and using force can escalate tensions. Criminals no longer fear the police, believing they’ll escape punishment.”
Marking the issue, Mohammad Nasirul Islam, Joint Commissioner of DMP’s Detective Branch, said, “We’re conducting targeted surveillance and raids, significantly reducing terrorist activities. We’re prioritizing cases involving top criminals.”