This is a growing concern that the number of homicide in the country has increased by leaps and bounds in recent months. Evidently, in April alone, at least 316 people were brutally murdered, of which 66 were in Dhaka followed by Chattogram 65 and Khulna 35, according to police statistics.
It gives an indication that there is little to no law and order existing in the country in the face of moral degradation of our police force following the regime change after the downfall of the Awami League government in August 5 last year. During the time of uprising, our law enforcers were found violating human rights and that is why they lost public confidence.
Additionally, there were palpable changes in police administration from top to bottom and almost all police stations and their posts across the country were destroyed by the angry people. Moreover, the removal of police station heads by the interim government due to their perceived propinquity to the previous regime, meant new officers were assigned and they are unfamiliar with areas and it is potentially hindering their day-to-day activities.
Power vacuum is another factor that leads to increased political instability and creates an environment where criminals thrive by taking advantage of the uneasy and abnormal situation. Rising murder incidents are also taking place due to political rivalries, disputes over personal interests, drug trafficking, territorial clashes, domestic feuds, property disputes, extramarital affairs, robberies and mob lunching.
Political clashes and rivalries have claimed significant number of lives. As per Human Rights Support Society's estimates, over 47 people got murdered and 2,475 injured in 325 incidents of political violence across the country in the first three months of this year. And ostensibly, most of the violent incidents were found linked to the fight for supremacy, political vengeance, intra-party clashes, extortions and attempts to control some government properties which are leased out every year.
Again, in the absence of law and order, mob violence has also spiked alarmingly. Soon after the regime change in the country in August, a term called 'mob justice' became talk of the town. In this situation, angry people or chaotic crowds take the law into their own hands to punish the accused. In some cases, vested groups were seen cashing in on these untoward situations to serve their own interests.
As a result, many people have lost their lives in mob lynching. According to Ain O Salish Kendra, at least 128 people were killed in such incidents in 2024, of which 96 died in August-December. As per other accounts, more than 10 people were killed in 17 incidents of lynching in February and 16 people were murdered by mobs in January.
We call on the government to ensure safety and security of the citizens on a priority basis. Otherwise, people will grow restive to the existing administrative system that may lead to more chaotic situation.
