In the last five months of the previous year, 1,565 murders occurred in Bangladesh, averaging 313 killings per month. Over this period, more than 1,500 people were injured by firearms and sharp weapons used by attackers. These figures were gathered from police headquarters, hospitals, and the families of victims.
Criminal incidents have continued in the early months of this year. In the first 25 days of January, more than one person was murdered daily, according to sources from law enforcement agencies.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated , “We are making every effort to maintain law and order. All unit chiefs of the police have been instructed to take necessary measures. Many criminals have been arrested through operations.”
Sources also revealed that multiple murders occurred daily during the past 25 days of January. The underlying reasons for these killings include political violence, extortion, mugging, and robbery. Although cases have been filed in connection with these incidents, many of the perpetrators remain at large and may engage in further crimes.
Last Friday alone, three sensational murders occurred in one day. Among them, a garment worker named Md. Milon was beaten and hacked to death in a slum in Dhaka’s Mirpur area. That same evening, a student from Khulna University, Arnob Kumar Sarkar, was publicly shot and killed in Khulna city. Earlier that day, a businessman named Jahangir Alam was killed by gunfire while going to Friday prayers in Raozan, Chattogram.
Such murders have become a daily occurrence both in the capital and outside Dhaka. In addition, unidentified bodies are being recovered from rivers, canals, fields, and forests across the country. Crimes like theft, robbery, and muggings are also on the rise.
Crime analysts believe that the rampant killings and other criminal incidents indicate severe societal disorder. They attribute this situation to the failure of law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the need for immediate measures to restore public peace.
Investigations by the police reveal that the motives behind the rising murders include personal disputes, political dominance, extortion, greed over property, and strained relationships. Even minor incidents are escalating into fatal attacks.
Data from the police headquarters shows that in 2024, a total of 3,432 people from various professions were murdered across the country. Between August and December alone, 1,565 murders occurred. In the first seven months of the year, 1,867 murders were recorded, averaging 267 killings per month.
Additionally, police data indicates that between September and December, 796 cases of robbery and mugging were filed, compared to 494 cases during the same period in 2023. Similarly, 302 abduction cases were recorded, up from 160 cases the previous year.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies, police officials acknowledge that certain social crimes contribute significantly to the increasing murder rates.
Crime and court data reveal that between November 1 and December 1 last year, at least 34 people filed mugging complaints in the 50 police stations of Dhaka. On December 18, Kamrul Hasan was stabbed to death by muggers on the Mayor Hanif flyover. Days earlier, on December 15, Habib Ullah was fatally stabbed by muggers in the Moghbazar area.
The rise in extortion cases is another concerning trend. On January 10, a businessman named Ehteshamul Haque was brutally attacked on Elephant Road in Dhaka after refusing to pay extortion money. A case was filed against top criminal Emon and his associates in this incident.
Regarding the escalating crimes in Dhaka, including murders, muggings, and robberies, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md. Sajjat Ali stated, “Law enforcement agencies are actively working to control crimes, and no criminal will escape justice.”