Qatar-based international TV channel Al Jazeera published a report on 4 March 2025  that highlighted the dire law and order situation in Bangladesh, which has almost crippled the country in the past six months under the interim government led by Professor Yunus. The country remains highly politically fragmented, and the report raises questions about the validity of the so-called July uprising, during which mugging, killing, and rape have become rampant.

Rising Crime Wave

Bangladesh is experiencing its worst crime wave in years. In January 2025 alone, police recorded 242 muggings and robberies—the highest in six years—alongside 294 murders, a sharp increase from the previous year. Abductions more than doubled, and violent crimes surged across the country. 

Victims’ Ordeals

Maydul Hassan, a 21-year-old student, was mugged twice in one week, including an incident where police allegedly stood by without intervening. When he tried to file a complaint, a local political operative extorted money from him, promising to recover his stolen phone. Hassan’s experience reflects a broader trend of police inaction and political opportunism. 

Government Response

Despite launching Operation Devil Hunt, a joint military-police crackdown that led to over 9,000 arrests, violent crime continues unabated. Home Affairs adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury claims law enforcement efforts have intensified, but citizens remain skeptical. Protests have erupted nationwide, with students and citizens demanding immediate action and resignations of key officials. 

Root Causes 

Experts attribute the crime surge to political instability following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The release of convicted criminals on bail, the influx of weapons looted during political uprisings, and a lack of coordination within the interim government have exacerbated the crisis. Police, already struggling with public distrust, face challenges in rebuilding their effectiveness. 

Public Desperation 

Fear has driven some citizens to take security into their own hands, with vigilante justice becoming increasingly common. Mob violence has claimed 16 lives in January alone, highlighting the erosion of trust in law enforcement. 

A Betrayal of Hope 

For many, especially the youth who participated in last year’s uprising for change, the current situation feels like a betrayal. “We fought for a safer Bangladesh, but now we are at the mercy of criminals,” said protester Tanvir Rifat. 

With no clear timeline for elections and public confidence dwindling, Bangladesh faces an uncertain future as crime continues to overshadow daily life.

Major highlights of the Report

“Muggings, assaults, and rapes are spiking in the Bangladesh capital under Muhammad Yunus’s interim government, leaving the youth who risked their lives for change to ask: ‘What was it all for?’” the report stated.

The report includes interviews with victims who described being mugged in broad daylight while law enforcement officers merely looked on. Here are some highlights from the report:

When 21-year-old student Maydul Hassan was first mugged, he thought he had hit rock bottom. But within a week, he was attacked and robbed again – this time, in front of police officers who, according to Hassan, stood by and did nothing.

Hassan, who had participated in last year’s student-led uprising that helped unseat longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now wonders what has become of the nation he risked his life for. “This is what I got in return,” he said. “The nation is drowning in crime, and no one seems to care.”

On February 13, a group of men ambushed him at about 10 PM while he was returning home from his part-time job at a tech firm in the capital’s Mirpur area. The attackers took his Pixel 4XL phone, wallet, university ID, and headphones.

Days later, on February 18, he was beaten and robbed again. The assailants snatched the new Google Pixel 7 phone he had just bought on a $400 loan, then mocked him as he pleaded with them to return it.

The police were stationed only meters away, Hassan said. “I cried, I begged, but the police did nothing.”

Safety on edge

Hassan’s ordeal is not an isolated case. Bangladesh, home to 170 million people, is experiencing its worst crime wave in years. Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the streets have grown increasingly perilous. In January 2025 alone, police reported 242 cases of mugging and robbery – the highest number in six years – across Bangladesh.

At least 294 murders were recorded in January 2025, compared with 231 in the same month the previous year. Robberies surged from 114 to 171, and abductions more than doubled. Police data also show a sharp rise in muggings, robberies, and abductions in November and December last year, surpassing figures from the same period over the previous five years.

“The figures are alarming,” said Najmus Sakib, a criminology assistant professor at Dhaka University. “People fought for democracy, but now they are afraid to step outside their homes. That doesn’t give a positive sign about the state of our law enforcement.”

However, retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who is in charge of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs, dismissed these concerns, claiming that the government is appropriately dealing with the increasing crime rate.

“You will feel tonight that our law enforcement activities have increased significantly,” Chowdhury told reporters during an emergency news conference at 3 AM on February 24 – hours after a wave of muggings in different parts of Dhaka sparked panic among residents.

Never seen such a bad situation

In one incident, Anwar Hossain, a jeweler, was attacked outside his home while carrying gold worth approximately 28,100,000 taka ($232,000) in cash. Six men on motorcycles tried to snatch his bag. When he resisted, they shot him and fled. With gunshot wounds in both legs, Hossain is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The incident, captured on video, went viral and sparked outrage and protests across Dhaka, with demonstrators demanding Chowdhury’s resignation. Between February 1 and February 26, dozens of violent crimes – including murder, rape, robbery, and extortion – were reported nationwide in local media, with gruesome videos and firsthand accounts from victims circulated widely on social media.

“There was theft and snatching before, but now it is out of control,” said Rahmat Ullah, a rickshaw driver in his 50s. He added that he had “never seen such a bad situation” in more than 17 years of work. His passengers have been victims of attacks too, Ullah said.

“I used to save up the money I earned over 15 to 20 days and send it home through a bank. Now, whatever I earn each day, I send back home immediately [via a mobile financial service].”

Despite this, the government has been hesitant to acknowledge the crisis. Asif Nazrul, the adviser for the Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs ministry, conceded government shortcomings but insisted that the interim administration under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was doing all it could.

“Sometimes, the situation was good, sometimes extremely bad,” Nazrul said. “But we are making relentless efforts to control the situation.”

For many Bangladeshis, these assurances ring hollow.

“My parents worry every time I step outside, and this is the reality for all women like me. We just want to hustle through our daily life not being raped or hijacked and make it home safely without any fear,” said Eti Akter, one of the protesters, told Al Jazeera. “Life now feels more unsafe than ever.”

“This is not the Bangladesh we hoped to see after the mass uprising. It feels like everything could be snatched away at any moment,” Rifat said. He compared the streets of Dhaka with Gotham, the fictional, crime-riddled metropolis from the DC universe. “But, sadly, we don’t have a Batman.”

Farisa Nusrat, a Dhaka University student, said she avoids staying out late. “My parents don’t allow it anymore. Even if I stay, they keep calling me,” she said.

Many private university students from different institutions are now demanding online classes during Ramadan, citing safety concerns.