Dhaka, Bangladesh’s bustling capital, is reeling from a surge in violent crime, with 136 murders reported from January to April 2025. Public killings, kidnappings, and armed robberies are escalating, leaving residents gripped by fear and insecurity.
A city under siege
On Saturday, May 31, two unidentified youths were hacked and beaten to death in Dhaka’s Darussalam area. The bodies, showing signs of severe violence, were found on the roadside. Police recovered them and sent them for autopsy. Their identities remain unknown.
Few days ago, in the Gudaraghat area of Badda, Qamrul Ahsan Sadhan, a local BNP leader, was gunned down by two masked assailants while chatting outside a shop. The killers fired blank shots before fleeing, with chilling CCTV footage of the murder spreading rapidly on social media.
That same day, a video emerged of kidnappers attacking a young man named Abdullah with a machete in broad daylight in Moghbazar.
Just last Tuesday, 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 this month, on May 19, 30-year-old 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.
A breakdown in law and order
Law enforcement officials warn that the situation could worsen without urgent action. Political instability, mob violence, and a lack of fear of the police are driving the crime surge, particularly in Dhaka.
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.
Crime analyst Omar Faruk, a professor at Maulana Bhashani University, told Jago News, “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.”
Grim crime statistics
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.
Nationwide, April saw 16,368 cases, including 336 murders, 46 robberies, 149 banditry cases, 88 kidnappings, and 715 thefts.
March recorded 16,240 cases, February 13,022 (with 300 murders), and January 14,572 (with 294 murders). Over the past 24 days, 23 police officers were attacked across the country.
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.
Underworld figures resurface
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 through army intelligence, other criminals in Moghbazar, Motijheel, Badda, and Gulshan remain at large.
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.”
Mohammad Nasirul Islam, Joint Commissioner of DMP’s Detective Branch, countered, “We’re conducting targeted surveillance and raids, significantly reducing terrorist activities. We’re prioritizing cases involving top criminals.”
Crackdown planned before Eid
DIG (Crime) Dr Md Ashrafur Rahman assured Jago News, “With arrests like Subrata Bain’s, we’re making progress. Before Eid, we aim to bring top criminals to justice, ensuring no underworld activities persist. Police patrols will continue, and there’s no need for public panic.”
He emphasised that law enforcement is working tirelessly to apprehend criminals before the holiday.
Systemic failures fuel crime
Professor Faruk warned that overstretched police, distracted by protests, arrests, and investigations, lack the capacity for effective surveillance. “Criminals believe they’ll face minimal consequences, even if caught. Possible links between law enforcement and underworld syndicates are encouraging this boldness. Without honest and professional policing, criminal dominance will grow,” he said.
As Dhaka’s streets grow more dangerous, residents await stronger measures to restore safety and curb the rising tide of violence.