An alarming rise in crime has left citizens across the nation deeply concerned, with incidents of extortion, encroachment, robbery, mob justice, cybercrime, fraud, and even suicide on the increase. Despite efforts by law enforcement, which remains hampered by limited resources, the surge in criminal activity shows little sign of abating.
Analysts point to the growing frequency of violent mob justice, where individuals are beaten to death over minor offenses, as a troubling sign of rising public intolerance. They argue that the absence of effective law enforcement and a lack of accountability for those in power are key factors contributing to the crisis.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali said, “After August 5, the police were in a state of trauma. They have not yet fully recovered. However, the situation is much better than before. Robberies have increased. However, police patrols have been increased to prevent robberies. The situation will come under control in the coming days. The community police are being reorganized to control law and order and restore peace to the public.”
On January 1 at around 1:30 am, Hasibul Islam (40) returned to his home in Gazipur from his in-laws' house in Dhaka with his family members. Immediately after parking the car in front of the house, 8-10 drug-addicted teenagers started making obscene gestures when they saw his wife and brother-in-law's wife inside the car. When they tried to stop him, they attacked Hasib, his brother-in-law Hanif and the driver Shimul. Hasib could not escape even after entering the house to save his life.
On January 22, a young man named Rubel (32) was brutally beaten with his hands tied to a banyan tree in Jadurani Bazar, Ranishankail, Thakurgaon, on charges of motorcycle theft. At one point, his body became frozen. He was taken to Haripur Upazila Health Complex in a serious condition, where doctors declared him dead. Rubel is the son of Md. Khalil of Patuapara, Gogar village.
Not only the above two incidents. Such incidents are happening almost every day in different parts of the country. Recently, teenage gangs have become reckless in almost all areas of the country, including the capital itself. There are allegations that they have become even more reckless with the help of local influential people. In addition, top terrorists who were recently released on bail have become active again.
According to the Police Headquarters, cases of robbery, theft, banditry, and burglary have increased across the country in September, October, and November. Compared to August, 20 robbery cases increased in September. The increase was even more from September to October and November.
Robbery has created the biggest discomfort in the capital Dhaka. Robbery is happening everywhere. According to the police and Dhaka courts, at least 34 people have filed cases of robbery in 40 days from November 1 to December 10 in 50 police stations of Dhaka.
During this time, one person was killed by a robber. Four others were seriously injured. Seven people were killed in robber attacks in the four and a half months from August 5 to December 18.
On December 18, Kamrul Hasan was killed in a robbery attack on Mayor Hanif Flyover. On December 15, a young man named Habib Ullah was stabbed to death by robbers in Moghbazar. Last Thursday night, the miscreants who shot a businessman named Sajal Rajbangshi in the Kamrangirchar embankment area and robbed him of about 70 bhari of gold were also teenagers.
Meanwhile, Sarjis Alam, one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has filed a case against the operators of two pages on charges of cyberbullying by spreading false propaganda on Facebook. He filed the case at Dhaka's Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday. Earlier, rumors were spread that the chief advisor had resigned from a page on January 11.
Additional Commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of the DMP Rezaul Karim Mallick said, “We are trying to control crime as much as possible. Our specialized team is also working to control cybercrime. The cyber world is being patrolled regularly.”
Dr. Md Tawohidul Haque, Associate Professor at Institute of Social Welfare and Research, Dhaka University told Bangladesh Pratidin, “We see that most of those involved in crime are young or teenagers. They steal, rob, dacoity or take mob justice or the law into their own hands. If they do not like someone's behavior or are motivated by revenge from previous complaints or anger, they take the opportunity to take revenge by taking the law into their own hands. Failure to respect the rights of others creates complications in society.”
He also said, “The people's language, needs or hopes and aspirations should be given a clear idea to the people about the current and future politics in a democratic manner. When the people get a clear idea about these issues from the responsible authorities, such rumors will decrease to a great extent.”
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
