Administration acts only when incidents go viral

A person becomes a victim of a crime, goes to the police station, files a complaint and waits for justice. But little response comes. Yet the moment a video of the same incident spreads on Facebook, the situation changes. Police become active, the accused is detained and administrative action is taken. An allegation that the victim claims was ignored for a long time suddenly becomes the center of public discussion. Such experiences have led many to ask whether filing a complaint is no longer enough to obtain justice for a crime in Bangladesh and whether the incident must also go viral.

The police offer a different account of these complaints. They say not every crime is reported on social media, yet they regularly receive complaints, conduct investigations and take legal action. However, examples of swift action in one incident after another following viral exposure have raised questions among the public. If the administration can act promptly later, why can it not ensure effective action from the outset?

A report by the human rights organization Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has highlighted a disturbing picture of violence and abuse. According to the organization, 73 people were killed and 6,500 were injured in political violence during the nine months from January to September this year. During the same period, 187 people were killed in mob violence and lynchings. A total of 491 bodies were recovered from rivers, canals, forests and abandoned places. In addition, 2,404 incidents of violence against women and girls were reported, including 657 rape cases.

Behind every figure is a family, a shattered life and an expectation of justice. But not all incidents receive equal attention. Some are reported in the media, others spread across social media, while some remain confined to victims’ families, local communities or police records. Many people feel unsafe when making allegations against influential individuals. There are allegations that after incidents involving land grabbing, attacks on businesses or vandalism at homes, victims face threats from the accused while seeking redress.

An incident in Dhanmondi in the capital involving the public beating of an elderly man has brought these questions to the forefront. According to allegations, a young man assaulted the elderly man. Although police officers were present at the scene, criticism arose over their failure to intervene immediately. After a video of the incident spread on social media, the accused was detained. Reports also emerged that action was taken against the police officer concerned over allegations of negligence in performing his duties.

A similar situation arose in a case involving allegations of land grabbing, assault and vandalism in Mohammadpur in the capital. Footage showing people entering a plot of land, vandalizing structures and removing belongings spread on social media, bringing the incident into widespread public discussion. Reports of a case being filed and arrests followed.

The attack, vandalism and looting at the Radha healthcare center in Mirpur in the capital followed a similar pattern. Allegations suggest that despite Shah Ali Police Station being located nearby, the expected police assistance was not available during the attack. After the incident sparked public discussion and criticism, police took action. Reports also emerged that the officer in charge of the police station had been withdrawn. Those concerned have asked how much an arrest or action against an officer for negligence can compensate victims for their immediate losses if the assistance they needed most was unavailable when the incident occurred.

Most recently, an incident in the capital’s Gandaria area involving former state minister for liberation war affairs and Dhaka 6 lawmaker Ishraque Hossain conducting an anti-drug operation while brandishing a firearm sparked widespread discussion and criticism. After a video of the incident circulated, questions were raised about his actions and the possibility of political and administrative measures came to the forefront.

Earlier, the cases involving children Ramisa Akter and Asiya stirred the conscience of people across the country. Both incidents sparked widespread public discussion and prompted demands for swift trials and exemplary punishment. However, these cases raised questions not only about the severity of the crimes but also about how visible the state’s response can become when public outrage is intense.

On May 19, eight-year-old Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered in Pallabi in the capital. The incident triggered widespread discussion across the country. After the investigation was completed, the trial moved forward quickly. The trial court’s verdict within 19 days of the incident drew attention as an example of a swift judicial process.

In another case, eight-year-old Asiya was raped and sexually abused in March 2025 while visiting her sister’s in laws’ home in Magura. After receiving treatment at several hospitals for serious injuries, she died on March 13 while undergoing treatment at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital. The incident sparked protests and demands for justice across the country. On May 17 of the same year, a trial court sentenced the main accused, Hitu Sheikh, to death and acquitted three other defendants. On August 31, 2026, the High Court upheld Hitu Sheikh’s death sentence.

Crime experts say the progress of the trials in the Ramisa and Asiya cases is undoubtedly important. However, the judicial progress in these high-profile cases should not be conflated with the question of obtaining redress in other crimes. The social significance of an incident, the nature of the evidence and the judicial process may differ. However, the intense public reaction after such cases come to light creates an opportunity to discuss the capacity of state institutions to prevent crime, speed up investigations and ensure victims’ safety.

Dr. Touhidul Haque, a University of Dhaka professor and crime expert, told Agamir Somoy that strong administrative action after an incident goes viral on social media can be positive, but it cannot replace a regular law enforcement system. He said it is the police’s responsibility to give a citizen’s complaint serious consideration and verify it before taking necessary legal action as soon as it is filed at a police station.

This is not a new question. In 2020, an incident involving the abuse of a woman in Begumganj, Noakhali, triggered intense public outrage after footage spread on social media. The incident raised questions about the victim’s safety, action against the perpetrators and the role of local law enforcement agencies. In response, the High Court also issued directives concerning the safety of the victim and her family and the investigation of allegations of negligence in the performance of official duties.

There are also examples of action being taken without widespread social media exposure when information about a crime reaches the relevant authorities in time. Police arrested four people over allegations that they demanded extortion money while posing as police officers at an auto rickshaw garage in Jatrabari in the capital. According to the allegations, they threatened the garage owner by claiming that stolen auto rickshaws were being kept there and demanded Tk 30,000 in extortion money. Police arrested all four at the scene.

Akhtar Hossain, deputy commissioner of the media wing of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, also offered an important perspective. He told Agamir Somoy that police take action as soon as they receive information. However, in many cases, police do not know about an incident beforehand. They learn about it later when it goes viral or attracts public attention and then take action.

He said that out of every 100 incidents in which police take legal action, perhaps only one or two go viral. As a result, although a small number of viral incidents are highlighted as examples, the countless other complaints that police receive and investigate remain out of public discussion.

At a crime review meeting of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said appropriate action would be taken if police were found negligent in any incident. According to him, crime must be treated as crime regardless of the political identity or views of the perpetrator. Instructions have been issued to take action in all cases after proper investigation. He also said no form of land grabbing or illegal activity would be allowed.

Dr. Touhidul Haque believes that if a pattern develops in which action is taken only after incidents go viral, people may come to believe that complaints are not properly evaluated without widespread exposure on social media.