Dhaka, June 7, 2026 — Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over the country’s law and order situation during the first 100 days of the BNP-led government, reporting a total of 1,185 incidents of murder, robbery, snatching and abduction during March and April this year.
The findings were presented on Sunday at a press conference in Dhaka, where TIB unveiled its report titled “The First 100 Days of the Government Following the 13th National Parliamentary Election: Monitoring the Implementation of Commitments to Good Governance and Anti-Corruption.”
According to the report, the country witnessed 605 murders, 196 abductions, 294 snatching incidents and 90 robberies during the two-month period. In addition, 2,214 theft cases and 3,496 incidents of violence against women and children were recorded.
The report also highlighted serious human rights concerns. Between 78 and 102 rape cases were reported, including 30 to 36 gang rapes, while 49 to 71 children were victims of sexual violence. TIB documented between 69 and 80 incidents of mob violence, resulting in 31 to 42 deaths and up to 125 injuries.
Presenting the findings, TIB Senior Research Fellow Md. Julkarnayeen said that despite increased police activities and government initiatives to improve security, the overall law and order situation remained fragile. The report noted a continued rise in snatching, theft, robbery and abduction, while nearly 40 percent of criminal activities in Dhaka involved juvenile gangs.
TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman described the first 100 days of the government as both “promising and concerning.” While acknowledging several positive initiatives, he said the persistence of murder, robbery, theft, extortion, rape, violence against women and children, and mob culture posed significant obstacles to establishing good governance.
The anti-corruption watchdog criticized the government for failing to reconstitute key institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the National Human Rights Commission and the Information Commission within the first three months of its tenure.
“Not forming the Anti-Corruption Commission even after three months is unfortunate and embarrassing,” Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, warning that weakening the commission’s authority would undermine anti-corruption efforts.
The report further alleged that political considerations continue to influence appointments and postings in government agencies, Bangladesh Bank, commercial banks, local government institutions and educational establishments, contrary to the ruling party’s election pledges.
TIB also raised concerns over the continued rise of extremist religious groups and attacks on shrines, minority communities and cultural institutions. Recent attacks on Shah Ali Shrine in Dhaka and a Sufi leader in Kushtia were cited as examples of growing intolerance and threats to Bangladesh’s tradition of religious and cultural coexistence.
In the education sector, the report criticized the dismissal of vice-chancellors from 19 universities before the completion of their terms and alleged that new appointments were made on political considerations without following proper procedures. It also noted unrest and violence on several university campuses linked to administrative appointments and student political rivalries.
Despite its concerns, TIB acknowledged several government initiatives, including campaigns against juvenile gangs, cybercrime, drugs and organized crime, as well as efforts to reform university vice-chancellor appointment processes and improve educational administration.
The organization concluded that while the government has initiated sectoral reforms in line with its election manifesto, persistent governance deficits, political influence, weak accountability mechanisms and the absence of a clear anti-corruption roadmap risk undermining its reform agenda and public expectations.Dhaka, June 7, 2026 — While the first 100 days of Bangladesh’s new government have demonstrated some positive intentions toward promoting good governance and combating corruption, significant concerns remain regarding accountability, institutional reforms, and political influence, according to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The observations were presented on Saturday during the release of TIB’s report, “The First 100 Days of the Government Following the 13th National Parliamentary Election: Delivering on Commitments to Good Governance and Anti-Corruption,” at the organization’s Dhanmondi office.
The review assessed the BNP-led government’s performance against its 31-point reform agenda and election manifesto, examining developments in parliament, the executive branch, judiciary, local government, human rights, anti-corruption efforts, access to information, media freedom, and institutional effectiveness.
TIB acknowledged several positive initiatives undertaken during the period, including the abolition of duty-free vehicle and plot privileges for Members of Parliament, the reduction of VVIP privileges for the Prime Minister, measures to recover laundered assets from abroad, and efforts to improve parliamentary participation.
However, the organization expressed serious concern over what it described as a lack of a clear roadmap for ensuring accountability and implementing promised reforms.
Speaking at the press conference, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that although some unprecedented examples of leadership had been observed at the highest levels of government, it remained difficult to conclude that governance practices had fundamentally changed.
He noted that several government decisions appeared inconsistent with the BNP’s election manifesto, its 31-point reform commitments, and the aspirations of the July Uprising, particularly regarding the establishment of a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free state.
According to the report, accountability mechanisms have weakened due to the absence of most parliamentary standing committees, while special committees continue to be dominated by members of the ruling alliance. TIB also raised concerns over conflicting political positions regarding reforms to Article 70 of the Constitution and the implementation of the July Charter.
The report criticized the government’s decision to convert 97 of 133 ordinances issued during the interim administration directly into law, while suspending or repealing key ordinances related to judicial independence, the National Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and the prevention of enforced disappearances. TIB argued that these measures had created opportunities to strengthen public accountability.
Concerns were also raised over appointments to key institutions, including Bangladesh Bank, local government bodies, universities, and professional organizations. TIB warned that such decisions reflected continued political influence despite commitments to merit-based governance.
The organization further highlighted challenges in law and order, citing the persistence of mob violence, extortion, land grabbing, and attacks by extremist groups. It noted that between March and April 2026, the country recorded 605 murders, 196 abductions, 294 hijackings, and 3,496 incidents of violence against women and children. Nationwide, between 69 and 80 incidents of mob violence reportedly resulted in 31 to 42 deaths.
Media freedom also remained under pressure, according to the report. During the government’s first 100 days, 188 journalists allegedly faced harassment in 130 separate incidents, including arrests and legal cases. TIB expressed concern over the possible misuse of provisions in the Cyber Security Act 2026 to suppress freedom of expression.
The report also criticized the removal of important government documents from public access during the redesign of the Chief Adviser’s Office website, arguing that the move reduced transparency and hindered citizens’ right to information.
In the financial sector, TIB questioned the appointment of the central bank governor and criticized the Bank Resolution Act 2026, claiming that it could allow owners of troubled banks to regain control without being held accountable. The report also noted a lack of meaningful reform in loan rescheduling practices.
Concluding its assessment, TIB urged the government to develop and implement a clear, time-bound roadmap for fulfilling its election commitments and reform pledges. The anti-corruption watchdog called on the administration to strengthen institutions, ensure accountability, and uphold the public expectations that emerged from the July mass uprising.
