DHAKA — At least 441 police personnel were injured in attacks while performing their duties across Bangladesh during the first seven months of 2026, according to Police Headquarters data.
The figure means that more than 51 officers were injured on average each month between January and July.
Police Headquarters data show that a total of 1,042 officers were injured in attacks over the 19 months from January 2025 through July 2026. Of them, 601 were injured last year.
The highest monthly toll this year was recorded in January and February, with 82 police personnel injured in each month. Sixty-three were injured in March, 66 in April, 55 in May, 51 in June and 42 in July.
The incidents have ranged from suspects being forcibly taken away from police while handcuffed to attacks inside police stations and assaults on traffic officers carrying out routine duties on roads.
The latest fatal incident occurred in Aminbazar, Savar, where Special Branch Sub-Inspector Altab Hossain was beaten to death. A private-car driver, Jahirul Islam, has been accused of involvement in the attack. Police said he is a local ward-level leader of the Jubo Dal.
More Than 600 Officers Injured in 2025
Attacks on police were also frequent in 2025.
According to Police Headquarters, 38 officers were injured in January last year, 37 in February, 96 in March, 52 in April, 62 in May, 44 in June, 39 in July, 51 in August, 43 in September, 69 in October, and 41 each in November and December.
That brought the total for the year to 601.
Among metropolitan police units, Dhaka Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of injuries during the first seven months of this year, with 42 officers attacked.
In 2025, 89 DMP personnel were injured in attacks.
Among the police ranges, Dhaka Range recorded the highest number of injured personnel, according to the report.
Officers Attacked During Routine Duties
Police personnel have not been attacked only while trying to arrest suspects.
Several incidents cited in the report involved officers carrying out ordinary duties.
On March 10, 2025, traffic police officer Shaheen Hossain was allegedly attacked in Fatullah, Narayanganj, while on duty. The allegation was made against people identifying themselves as coordinators.
On the same day in Savar, a female police constable was beaten with an iron rod.
Earlier, on March 1, traffic constable KM Shariful Islam was allegedly punched in the nose while performing his duties in Jashore. Political leader Shawon Islam Sabuj was accused of carrying out that assault.
On Oct. 5 last year, an additional superintendent of police was attacked in Narsingdi while working to curb extortion in the road transport sector.
More recently, Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam and three other police officers were also attacked on a road in Dhaka.
Concerns Over Police Morale
Crime analysts say repeated attacks on police could have consequences beyond the injuries suffered by individual officers.
They warn that such incidents can damage morale within the force and weaken the state’s ability to enforce the law. If police officers become reluctant or unable to act, criminals could become more emboldened, they say.
Former Inspector General of Police Ashraful Huda said the force has still not fully recovered from the upheaval following Aug. 5, 2024.
He said senior police officials should spend more time with officers in the field and encourage them.
According to Huda, such engagement would give rank-and-file officers confidence and prevent them from feeling that they have been left without institutional support.
Former IGP Nur Mohammad also stressed the importance of ensuring an environment in which police can perform their duties properly.
He said officers should be allowed to work in accordance with the Police Regulations of Bengal and that senior officials should remain active at the field level.
Police must be given the confidence to treat an offender as an offender, regardless of the circumstances, he said.
If the police force cannot regain its footing, Nur Mohammad warned, the public’s sense of security will also suffer, with consequences across society.
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