In the recent weeks, Dhaka's neighborhoods, particularly Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi, have found themselves the focal points of heightened criminal activity. This surge in violence - including muggings, armed robberies, and even gang clashes - has left an unsettling mark on the psyche of the city's residents, many of whom now find themselves contemplating the stability of a society that appears suddenly fragile.
Yet, can a few incidents, however alarming, genuinely unravel the social fabric that has held communities together for decades? In any society, crime serves as a sort of twisted mirror, reflecting back not just isolated individuals' actions but the sum of many silent compromises, unattended ethical responsibilities, and unnoticed fractures in our communal psyche. The question, therefore, is not merely how to curtail crime but how to understand the signs these incidents reflect - signs that may point to an urgent need for introspection.
Historically, communities have always relied upon mutual trust, shared values, and a sense of collective responsibility to maintain peace. Crime, while occasionally inevitable, has often been mitigated through societal balance and a deeply ingrained moral code. Today, however, when we see communities like Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi witnessing increased violence, we must ask ourselves: has our society reached a point where the individual stands isolated, devoid of the values that once anchored them? Could these crimes be the culmination of long-ignored societal fractures - poverty, inequality, and social alienation? In this light, crime becomes not an anomaly but a signal, urging a recalibration of our ethical compass.
Crimes don't occur in a vacuum; they sprout where there is a disconnection, a feeling of disenfranchisement, or even a hunger for relevance in a world that increasingly measures human worth by material gain rather than virtue. Recent incidents in these neighborhoods, marked by brazen robberies and street violence, have ignited fear - but beyond that, they should ignite a need for understanding. When law and order falter, it is easy to blame the "criminal," to cast them as a rogue element outside the norm. But ethically, we must confront the discomforting possibility that each act of violence is a reflection of our societal oversight.
One need only delve into basic psychology to understand that every human action seeks meaning. Even violence, in its essence, is often an attempt to reclaim lost relevance or agency. When an individual feels overlooked by society or senses an inequality that impedes their progress, resentment and frustration grow. Is it any wonder, then, that youth in these neighborhoods, grappling with societal neglect or unfulfilled promises of opportunity, turn to crime as an assertion of their existence?
Our society must acknowledge this subtle cry for relevance. When the moral scaffolding that holds communities together begins to disintegrate, even the most virtuous person may feel tempted by deviance if it offers a semblance of significance. The essence of an ethical society is not to demonize those who falter but to ask why they fell in the first place - and what society might have done to prevent it.
“Dhaka's government has a duty to create conditions where ethical
responsibility flourishes, where citizens see not only the cost of crime
but also the immeasurable worth of contributing positively to society.
Short-term punitive measures, like curfews and checkpoints, can provide a
temporary sense of order, but they do little to inspire genuine respect
for the law”
In the wake of these crimes, Dhaka's residents are understandably anxious. The common response has been an increased police presence, curfews, and community surveillance. Yet, is this escalation of control a long-term solution? True peace arises not from surveillance but from an ethical alignment where each individual feels bound by a sense of duty to their fellow citizens.
Moreover, an over-reliance on external security forces may only mask the symptoms while ignoring the underlying causes. Philosophically, society's role is not merely to punish but to prevent. We must ask: what structures, what community networks, and what values could have prevented these individuals from choosing a life of crime?
Dhaka's government has a duty to create conditions where ethical responsibility flourishes, where citizens see not only the cost of crime but also the immeasurable worth of contributing positively to society. Short-term punitive measures, like curfews and checkpoints, can provide a temporary sense of order, but they do little to inspire genuine respect for the law. Without the foundations of ethical reasoning and a sense of social duty, these temporary measures risk creating a cycle where crime becomes the norm, and deterrents grow increasingly severe.
The solution, therefore, lies in reimagining community as more than a collection of individuals but as a shared ethical entity, one where personal actions resonate within a moral collective. Dhaka's response to this crime wave must go beyond physical security. It must delve into educational reform, social programs, and employment opportunities that reintroduce Dhaka's youth to the idea of collective responsibility. Programs focused on ethical development, respect for law, and understanding the impact of one's actions on the community can act as long-term solutions, rekindling an understanding that every individual is an integral part of the societal fabric.
Dhaka's response to this surge in crime presents an opportunity for society to reflect upon its own ethical values. Every person has a role to play, from the government setting the tone of governance to each citizen living by a code of responsibility that transcends the law. True security arises from the knowledge that we are bound not by force but by a mutual respect, a respect that acknowledges each person as an essential pillar of our shared moral world.
The writer is a master's student in Autonomous Vehicle Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy
