In the wake of Bangladesh’s political upheaval, 2025 has emerged as a year of unrelenting crime. An alarming total of 181,737 cases flooded police stations, with violence against women and children leading the grim statistics at 21,936 incidents. Theft followed at 12,740, murders at 3,785, and dacoities jumping to 1,935.

The interim government under Muhammad Yunus, installed post-coup, struggles to contain the chaos. Bonik Barta, referencing police records, highlights additional horrors: 702 robberies, 1,101 kidnappings, 601 assaults on officers, 66 riots, and 988 Speedy Trial cases, plus 81,738 miscellaneous crimes.

Heartbreaking cases like the slaying of toddler Roza Mani galvanized public outrage. Discovered in a garbage heap near Bijoy Sarani overpass after disappearing from Tejgaon, her death symbolized the vulnerability of the young. Over 1,000 similar abuses rocked Dhaka, with reports from educational institutions and job sites nationwide.

Associate Professor Tauhiful Haq, a criminology expert at Dhaka University, paints a dire picture. ‘Law and order remains unstable post-political shift,’ he stated. ‘This has disproportionately impacted women and kids, fueling mob violence and assassinations.’ He urges robust legal measures to break the spiral.

As Yunus’s leadership falters against rising brutality, Bangladesh teeters on the edge. Restoring security demands urgent reforms, or the human cost will only mount in this fragile democracy.