According to police data from August 2024 to June 2025, the country has recorded 108,695 criminal incidents, including 3,504 murders, 17,900 cases of violence against women and children, and 1,587 robberies.

A disturbing wave of violence is sweeping Bangladesh, with more than 10 people murdered on average every day, according to official data. The shocking statistics have ignited a national outcry over the interim government’s handling of public safety and raised fresh questions about its ability to restore law and order before the next general election.

The situation came to a head last week with the gruesome daylight lynching of 39-year-old scrap dealer Chand Mia, also known as Sohag, in front of the Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in Dhaka. The attack, caught on video and widely circulated online, showed a mob dragging Mia from the hospital premises before brutally beating and hacking him to death in public view.

His death is just one in a growing list of violent incidents that have rocked the country in recent months. On July 11, Molla Mahbubur Rahman, an expelled leader of the opposition Jubo Dal, was shot and hacked to death in Khulna. That same week, a mosque imam narrowly survived a machete attack in Chandpur, and in March, three men – including two brothers – were killed by armed assailants who stormed a mosque in Madaripur.

These incidents, along with a broader pattern of rising crime, have left citizens gripped by fear and frustration. Many are voicing alarm over what they see as increasing lawlessness and a weakening of the rule of law.

According to police data from August 2024 to June 2025, the country has recorded 108,695 criminal incidents, including 3,504 murders, 17,900 cases of violence against women and children, and 1,587 robberies. Property crimes such as thefts (7,691 cases), burglaries (2,434), and dacoities (647 armed robberies) also remain widespread. The majority of cases – over 73,000 – fall under a broad “Other” category, indicating the scale of unclassified or under-reported crimes.

Dangerous Level of Complacency

But analysts now say those promises have failed to translate into meaningful action.

“There’s been a dangerous level of complacency from the authorities,” said political analyst Rezaul Karim. “Instead of decisive, sustained efforts, we’ve seen piecemeal responses that fail to address the root causes of crime and mob violence.”

Human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has also sounded the alarm over mob justice, reporting 179 lynching deaths in the past 11 months alone.

The surge in violence comes despite repeated promises by the caretaker government –  installed on August 8, 2024, under Muhammad Yunus –  to prioritize public safety and hold national elections. Early statements from interim ministers declared that restoring law and order would be their top concern.

The government’s response to the latest outrage has included pledges of intensified crackdowns. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced a nationwide “combing operation” to bring violent offenders to justice. He noted that police have already arrested seven of 19 suspects in the Mitford lynching case and vowed to fast-track their trials.

However, the announcement has done little to allay public concerns.

Critics say the lack of an elected government has emboldened criminals and weakened accountability. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders have accused the caretaker administration of deliberately stalling justice to maintain a grip on power during the election transition period.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a July 12 speech, warned that the government would be held responsible if insecurity continues to escalate. “The public cannot wait indefinitely for free and fair elections,” he said. “The delay is creating a vacuum that criminals are exploiting.”

Fakhrul also demanded an impartial investigation into the Mitford killing and other recent murders. “Justice must not be selective or delayed,” he said. “We are watching closely.”

Need Broader Cooperation

The data supports claims of a worsening trend. In January 2025 alone, police recorded 294 murder cases – up from 231 in January the previous year. Robberies rose from 114 to 171, and kidnappings more than doubled year-on-year. March and April saw the highest number of total crimes, with over 11,000 incidents each month.

Police officials, however, have defended their record. Enamul Haque Sagar, Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations), told Dhaka Tribune that police are responding swiftly and sincerely.

“In recent high-profile cases, arrests have been made within days,” he said. “We do not tolerate crime, and there is no compromise in enforcing the law.”

He added that the fight against crime requires broader cooperation: “Families, communities, and all conscious citizens must play an active role. Tolerance and patience are vital. People must report suspicious activity rather than take the law into their own hands.”

Despite such appeals, confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens remains low. Experts warn that unless urgent reforms are made and transparent elections are held soon, the violence could deepen.

“This is not just a law-and-order problem,” said social activist Shahana Rahman. “It’s a crisis of trust in institutions. People feel abandoned – and when trust breaks down, chaos takes its place.”

With election dates still uncertain and daily murders showing no signs of slowing, Bangladesh faces a stark choice: restore democratic order and rebuild public faith – or risk further descent into violence and vigilante justice.