Crime report shows murders down, rapes rising sharply

Crime statistics in Bangladesh reveal a mixed transformation. Murders, robberies, and riots have decreased, but the rising trajectory of crimes such as rape, violence against women, theft, and narcotics consumption and trade is raising alarm.

This overview of overall law and order situation emerged during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs, where statistics comparing crime figures by category year-over-year were presented.

Presided over by Standing Committee Chairman Zainul Abedin at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday, the meeting was attended by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and other committee members. During the meeting, the committee recommended that law enforcement agencies adopt modern technology for crime prevention and control.

Data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the meeting shows that 1,51,596 cases were registered during the first nine months of this year, compared to 1,37,806 cases in the same period last year, marking an increase of 13,790 cases over a one-year span.  

A comparative analysis indicates that 2,659 murder incidents occurred in the first nine months of the current year, down from 2,913 last year, representing a reduction of 254 murders.

Incidents of robberies, riots, and kidnappings also declined comparatively during this timeframe. A total of 387 robberies incidents occurred this year, compared to 538 last year. Robbery incidents dropped by 109, with 1,374 cases recorded this year against 1,483 last year.

Riots plummeted by 45, falling from 62 incidents last year to just 17 this year. Kidnappings fell by 43, decreasing from 812 last year to 769 this year. Explosives-related incidents dropped by 98, declining from 286 last year to 188 so far this year. Serious offenses tried under the Speedy Trial Act declined by 148, dropping from 743 cases last year to 595 this year.

Further comparative analysis demonstrates that while certain crime categories provided relief, the situation surrounding the protection of women and children was far less reassuring.

According to statistics, 5,381 rape cases were registered during the first nine months of this year, which is 1,271 more than last year’s 4,110 cases. On the same time, cases involving violence against women decreased from 9,262 to 8,178.

During the same period, child abuse incidents dropped by 440, falling from 3,591 last year to 3,151 this year. However, acid throwing incidents increased from four last year to five this year.

Over the same timeframe, burglary cases rose from 2,255 to 2,445, while ordinary theft increased from 7,273 to 7,340. A sharp upward trend was noted in narcotics-related cases, which surged by 14,322 cases, escalating from 39,050 to 53,072 cases, identified as a primary factor driving the rise in overall crime.

According to the presented figures, 441 police personnel were attacked this year, down from 463 last year.

Quarterly comparative data between the third quarters of last year and this year reflected a similar pattern. While murders declined, both rapes and incidents of violence against women rose significantly.

Statistics comparing July-September 2025 to July-September 2026 show that 55,454 cases were filed during these three months, compared to 46,479 in the corresponding period of the previous year. In the July-September quarter, murders dropped by 99, with 881 homicides recorded this year compared to 980 during the same period last year.

However, rapes surged during this quarter as well, rising from 1,370 cases last year to 2,129 cases in the same period this year. Violence against women also expanded, with 3,236 incidents reported in the third quarter of this year, up from 3,125 in the same period last year. During this period, general theft decreased slightly, but burglary rose. Additionally, drug cases increased from 14,103 to 20,651. Attacks on police officers dropped from 133 last year to 123 this year during this timeframe.

A press release issued by the National Parliament following the meeting said committee members requested a comparative overview of the law and order situation between last year and this year.

Salahuddin presented the overall law and order picture, and committee members present expressed satisfaction over the “improvement” in the security situation shown in the presented data.

Moreover, the meeting discussed measures taken to prevent and suppress substance abuse, extortion, mugging, teen gangs, and organized crime across the country.