The number of kidnappings in Bangladesh has increased alarmingly over the past year. In 2025, a total of 1,102 kidnapping incidents were recorded nationwide, compared to 642 cases in the previous year. This represents an increase of 460 cases, or 71.65 percent.
An analysis of crime statistics from Police Headquarters shows that 2025 recorded the highest number of kidnappings in the last five years. By comparison, 463 kidnapping cases were reported in 2023, 460 in 2022, and 445 in 2021.
Following a series of high-profile killings at the beginning of the new year, widespread concern has emerged over the country’s law and order situation. Leaders of several political parties have expressed anxiety over security conditions during the election period.
In response, the government launched Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 on December 13. As
of Monday, within 24 days of the operation, law enforcement agencies arrested 15,009 people and recovered 218 firearms. However, incidents of shootings have continued during the operation, with many people still falling victim to killings.
At a monthly crime review meeting on December 29, the Inspector General of Police instructed senior officers to prioritize stabilizing the law and order situation at any cost, with particular emphasis on the upcoming elections. Senior police officials, including superintendents of police from all districts and range deputy inspectors general, attended the meeting virtually.
Several recent killings have intensified public fear. Last Wednesday, Azizur Rahman, also known as Musabbir, former general secretary of the Dhaka North unit of the Metropolitan Volunteer Party, was murdered. On the night of December 31, lawyer Naim Kibria was beaten to death in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area following a dispute involving motorcyclists. He was later taken to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
On December 1, CNG-powered auto-rickshaw driver Pappu Sheikh was shot dead in the capital’s Jurain area. Police said the killing was led by a known local drug dealer who had long controlled narcotics operations in the area. Local residents had recently attempted to resist the drug trade, prompting the planned attack.
Police data further show that 3,785 murder cases were filed nationwide in 2025, although authorities noted that several cases registered during the year relate to incidents from earlier periods. In 2024, a total of 3,432 murders, 642 kidnappings, and 17,571 cases of violence against women and children were recorded.
In 2023, police recorded 3,023 murders, 463 kidnappings, and 18,941 cases of violence against women and children, indicating that serious crime has remained persistently high over recent years.
On November 30, criminals shot dead two young men in front of a court in Khulna. Earlier, on November 17, three assailants entered a hardware store in Dhaka’s Pallabi area and shot a local political activist at close range. Police said the attackers were professional hired hitmen.
