It is alarming that the country is witnessing a sharp surge in domestic violence and homicides. Police data shows that at least 3,509 murder cases were filed nationwide between January and November this year, with more than 50 per cent of these homicides originating from family disputes, often claiming the lives of innocent children caught between quarreling parents.
This wave of brutality has painted a grim picture of a society where homes, once places of security and comfort, are increasingly turning into sites of violence. The rise in such incidents is not the result of isolated outbursts but a reflection of deeper moral, social and institutional decay that demands urgent national attention.
In a restrictive and deeply patriarchal society, family disputes are common in Bangladesh. But the gruesome trend is that even minor disagreements increasingly veer into deadly confrontations, with spouses turning against each other with unimaginable cruelty.
Women continue to bear the brunt of this violence. Data from Ain-o-Salish Kendra displays this terrifying reality. More than 198 women were murdered by their husbands between January and October this year, dozens more were killed by in-laws or relatives and 144 died by suicide.
Experts attribute the rise in such brutality to eroding social values, economic pressure, technological misuse and growing self-centredness. Drug addiction, impatience and extramarital affairs are some other factors destabilising already our fragile family structures.
Another critical factor behind this surge is the weakness of law enforcement. Although Bangladesh has strong legal provisions to protect women and children, the enforcement of the laws remains poor. Experts stress that stricter and more accountable policing is essential to countering the moral decline at the moment.
But laws and policing alone cannot solve a problem rooted in social attitudes and behavioural norms. Patriarchal mindsets, gender discrimination and the economic vulnerability of women continue to fuel the cycle of violence. Breaking this pattern requires sustained social education, counselling services, and community engagement to strengthen the moral fabric of society.
Meanwhile, the broader crime landscape across the country presents an even more worrying picture. As Bangladesh heads toward a general election, overall criminal activity is rising. Organised crimes, from robberies and kidnappings to burglaries and dacoities, are becoming more frequent and brutal.
October alone saw a spike in murders with 319 incidents, up from 297 the previous month. Kidnappings surged to 110. Dhaka Metropolitan Police recorded 456 murders in just 14 months under the interim government, an average of 33 a month. Human rights groups report that 216 people were beaten to death during this period, indicating the spread of mob justice and a declining respect for the rule of law.
Police also admit that a quarter of the weapons looted on August 5 including deadly arms remain missing, posing a continued threat of escalating violence. In this situation, strengthening law enforcement agencies and ensuring proper application of the law are indispensable to curbing both domestic crimes and homicides.
