Crime shadows BNP’s first six months
Six months into the BNP government’s tenure, persistent crime, mob violence and attacks on police have emerged as major challenges, raising questions over its ability to deliver on a key election pledge to restore law and order and ensure public safety.
The government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman completes 180 days in office on Sunday, but public anxiety over killings, robbery, mugging, extortion, dacoity and other crimes remains widespread.
The continued rise in mob violence, juvenile gang activity and reports of renewed criminal and extremist activity have added to concerns over security.
The situation has also drawn criticism from within and outside parliament, with observers saying the law-and-order situation has yet to reach the level of stability expected by the public.
Police headquarters recorded 99,992 cases nationwide between
February and July, including 1,791 murders, 265 robberies, 904 muggings, 512 kidnappings, 4,808 thefts, 1,591 burglaries and 11,165 cases involving violence against women and children. There were also 317 attacks on police during the six-month period.
Monthly figures show crime remains high. Murder cases stood at 250 in February, 317 in March, 288 in April, 310 in May, 326 in June and 298 in July.
Cases of robbery and dacoity totalled 176, 181, 203, 209, 187 and 213 respectively during the same months.
Attacks on police also remain a concern. Police headquarters recorded 268 incidents between January and May and 317 from February to July.
More than 870 attacks were recorded between January 2025 and May this year, with officers often coming under attack while arresting suspects, conducting operations or enforcing the law.
Extortion and mob violence
The government has struggled particularly to curb extortion and mob violence.
A list of 1,280 alleged extortionists covering 50 police station areas in Dhaka was prepared, including 314 alleged patrons or controllers.
Police launched a special operation on May 1, but many footpath-level extortionists escaped arrest or went into hiding, and street-level extortion has continued.
Mob violence has also persisted despite Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed’s earlier pledge that such “mob culture” would not be tolerated.
According to the Manabadhikar Sans kriti Foundation, 18 people were killed in mob violence in February, 19 in March, 21 in April, 32 in May, 33 in June and 31 in July. The organisation recorded 21 such deaths in January.
On March 9, three people were beaten to death in Gazipur’s Kaliakoir upazila over allegations of cattle theft.
On March 1, a lawyer was beaten to death in Dhaka’s Bashundhara residential area following an altercation after a motorcycle collided with a private car.
New security threats
Concerns have also grown over reports of renewed activity by banned extremist groups, including recent bomb recoveries in Dhaka.
Cybercrime, online gambling, social-media misinformation and fraud involving mobile financial services, e-commerce and fake investment schemes have added to the security challenges.
Additional IG (Crime and Operations) Khondkar Rafiqul Islam said police efforts to improve law and order remained ongoing.
“Our multifaceted efforts to improve the law-and-order situation remain ongoing. In addition, we are working on formulating several strategies to improve the law-and-order situation and curb crime,” he told The New Nation.
AIG (Media) A H M Shahadat Hossain said intelligence surveillance, patrolling, checkpoints and information-based operations had been intensified.
Government cites progress
The government says it has taken several measures to strengthen security. Seven special committees were formed in June to devise strategies for curbing crime and improving public safety, and their reports were submitted.
A Prime Minister’s Office assessment highlighted the restoration of state authority in Jangal Salimpur, Chattogram, through a joint-force operation against criminals and land grabbers.
It also cited increased border surveillance with the BGB, stronger security in vulnerable riverine and border areas, and intensified operations in Rohingya camps against arms and drug smuggling, criminal gangs and armed activities.
Former IGP Ashraful Huda said police must take a firm position against mob violence and extremism regardless of political affiliation.
“Whoever engages in violence must be brought under the law,” he said, stressing that public awareness and cooperation were also essential.
Huda warned that rising extremist behaviour and the rapid spread of rumours on social media were making the situation more complicated.
As the BNP government marks its first 180 days, its security record therefore remains mixed: while the administration points to strengthened operations and surveillance, persistent crime, mob violence, extortion and emerging extremist and cyber threats continue to undermine public confidence in law and order.
