Official crime stats fall but victims stay silent
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
On 8 July, a theft occurred at a flat in Kalabagan, Dhaka. Goods worth Tk 2,00,000 were stolen. However, the victim, Abdul Momin, did not file a police case.
According to him, “If I go to the police station to complain, I will be bombarded with questions instead. Money will have to be spent just to catch the accused. Then comes round after round at court. Hire a lawyer, pay him money as well. Years pass just to get justice. Where is the time to leave my job and run to court?”
Countless victims like Momin do not go to the police station. As a result, although official statistics show a downward trend in theft and mugging, the real picture is the opposite.
Agamir Somoy has details on at least a dozen incidents of theft, mugging, and robbery involving victims like Abdul Momin this year. None of the victims in these incidents go to the police station.
In two incidents, general diaries (GD) were filed online reporting lost goods. In most mugging cases, even when victims go to police stations to file a case, the police do not record it. They are sent away after submitting a general diary mentioning lost or misplaced items.
Because of this, while statistics for theft, robbery, and mugging decrease in police records, the real picture is the opposite. Such crime networks span from Dhaka to district towns.
Police Headquarters Additional IGP (Crime & Operations) Khandker Rafiqul Islam told Agamir Somoy, “Most of the crimes occurring are being identified. Overall, the law and order situation has improved a lot. The crime trend is downward. The broken and demoralized police force has been gradually restored to an effective state. Police are investigating and taking legal action in various cases.”
He also advised victims of any crime to go to the police station without hesitation to file a complaint.
An analysis of police crime statistics shows that from August 2025 to January 2026, 328 robbery cases were filed in six months. From February to July 2026, that dropped to 256. Mugging cases decreased from 960 to 904. Burglary or organized theft cases fell from 1,659 to 1,591. General theft cases decreased the most, dropping from 5,113 to 4,808.
However, data from Bangladesh Police’s Crime Victimization Survey shows that nearly 73 percent of crime victims do not go to police stations due to fear of police hassle and lack of justice. As a result, while fewer cases appear in official statistics, in reality, the number of crimes is much higher.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) statistics also show a downward trend in such crimes. In the seven months from January to July, 875 cases were filed in various police stations regarding incidents of robbery, mugging, and theft. Among these, 675 cases were for theft, and 22 were for robbery. Meanwhile, only 178 cases were filed for mugging.
On 9 August, while going to deposit Tk 1,21,00,000 from a filling station in Uttara at a bank, an armed gang stopped the car, looted the money, and fled. On 30 August, an armed mugger gang snatched Tk 38,00,000 at gunpoint from a man named Khorshed Alam (50) in front of Dingi Restaurant on Road 12/A under Dhanmondi Model Police Station.
As these two incidents surfaced in the media, members of law enforcement agencies quickly arrested the criminals.
On 9 September, a robbery occurred at Billal Auto Charging Point in Dhamrai, Dhaka, after taking the night guard hostage at gunpoint. The robber gang took four easy-bikes and six batteries. Two days prior, an armed robber gang tied up four night guards, entered five shops in Ektarpur Market of Khoksa Upazila in Kushtia, and looted goods.
On 19 March, Mukta Akter in the Uttara area and Soheli Islam in front of Suhrawardy Hospital were killed in attacks by muggers. On 29 August, school teacher Ranjina Parvin met a tragic death due to a mugger’s forceful snatching in front of the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building.
Individuals said in many cases, criminals select targets in advance and lurk nearby. Withdrawing large sums of money from banks, business transactions, deserted roads at night, establishments with few security guards, and auto-rickshaw and battery storage locations are becoming targets for criminals. Firearms are used in some incidents. In others, organized groups pounce with sharp weapons.
Associate Professor of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at University of Dhaka, Tauhidul Haque, told Agamir Somoy, “Inter-police station coordination must be increased to monitor criminal movements. In controlling crime, emphasis must be given to crime prevention, not just counting reduced cases. Police patrolling must be increased on key roads, markets, banks, and commercial areas at night.
“Crime-prone areas must be identified. Regular ‘hotspot mapping’ must be done. Adequate lighting must be ensured in dark and deserted areas. Special support arrangements can be made for safe travel after withdrawing large sums of money from banks.
“An effective CCTV network must be established in important markets and commercial areas. Just installing cameras won’t do; arrangements for footage preservation and fast analysis must also be present.”
He added, “Special operations must be conducted in high-risk areas based on intelligence information. At the same time, initiatives must be taken to simplify complaint acceptance at police stations and the judicial process. What kind of harassment a victim faces to get justice must definitely be taken into consideration.”
