How much more will the police be attacked?

The very force tasked with ensuring the safety of ordinary citizens now finds its own members living in insecurity. While performing duties on the ground, they are frequently targeted in attacks. Sometimes police stations are besieged, sometimes arrestees are snatched away. Elsewhere, patrol officers or members on raids come under assault. The situation has reached a point where even senior officers of the force are not spared.

Most recently, on Tuesday, the vehicles of the Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commissioner came under attack in Aditmari, Lalmonirhat. Earlier that same day in the capital Dhaka, the Officer-in-Charge of Adabor police station and an Sub-Inspector with him were bloodied by machete blows while trying to catch a snatcher. These two incidents have once again brought the gravity of the situation to the fore.

Crime analysts say that the post-political-change realities, pent-up public anger, reckless activities of criminal gangs, and the force's internal psychological crisis—all together have placed the police before a complex challenge.

According to security analysts, sustained attacks on the police in a state are not merely a sign of deteriorating law and order; they are a direct challenge to state authority and the rule of law. They emphasize the need for swift and exemplary measures to bring the situation under control.

Across the capital Dhaka and various parts of the country, 268 attacks on police occurred in the five months up to May this year—according to data from Police Headquarters itself.

On June 9, at the Mainamati Highway crossing area on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, drivers and a group of locals suddenly attacked a patrol team. In retaliation for the seizure of illegal three-wheelers, the highway police vehicle was vandalized. That same night, in Baktarpur, Savar, two police officers were attacked while trying to arrest a narcotics case suspect. While handcuffing the accused, a mob of 40–50 people armed with sticks and bricks attacked the police and snatched away the accused.

Security analysts say that over a long period, public grievances and dissatisfaction against the police have accumulated. Allegations of political use, harassment, corruption, or biased behavior have created a negative perception among many ordinary citizens.

Various studies by the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka have shown that when public trust in law enforcement agencies declines, their authority and acceptability also weaken. Criminal gangs and extremist groups take advantage of such situations.

In some places, attackers seem to believe that the police are no longer as strong as before. This emboldens them to mount organized resistance or carry out attacks.
According to security analysts, after the political change, a process of restructuring has begun at various levels of the administration. During this time, many officials have taken cautious positions in decision-making. As a result, some hesitation or uncertainty may arise in the enforcement of law at the field level. Currently, a "tagging culture" is most prevalent within the police. Whenever there is a difference of opinion among themselves, members with dissenting views are being labeled with various stigmas, including being called cronies of the autocracy.

Touhidul Haque, a crime analyst and associate professor at the University of Dhaka, told Agamir Somoy "Army personnel are still in the field. If their capabilities are not effectively utilized given the reality, criminals will get the opportunity to become active. It is natural that law enforcement personnel will use necessary force to protect themselves. However, where the situation can be controlled with batons, the use of firearms is not justifiable."

Speaking to several former and current police officers, it was learned that the effects of the political instability and violent incidents of the past few years still linger among many members. A senior officer, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "Many members feel that any decision they make could later become a subject of controversy. As a result, they are becoming overly cautious in many cases."

Several officers said that mistakes can happen while performing duties. But their concern is that if any controversy arises, there is uncertainty about whether the institution will stand by them.

According to psychologists, when any professional group works under prolonged pressure, uncertainty, and public criticism, a crisis of confidence can develop. It is not unusual for something similar to happen within the police.

Negative campaigns against the police on social media, or the recirculation of old incidents, are also influencing public opinion. Often, rumors or incomplete information spread quickly, complicating the situation further. Authorities sometimes take action even before verification. The recent recall of Mahbub Ali Khan from his posting as Superintendent of Police in Feni has also raised questions about the influence of social media discussions.

According to crime experts, merely enforcing strict laws is not enough to stop attacks on the police. Public trust must be rebuilt, professionalism enhanced, accountability ensured, and community policing strengthened. If the gap between the public and the police is not narrowed, it will be difficult to completely stop incidents like attacks. At the same time, attention must be paid to the mental health, occupational safety, and morale rebuilding of the force's members.

Those concerned say there is no single reason behind the rise in attacks on the police. The combined effect of political realities, social psychology, the activities of criminal gangs, the crisis of public trust, and the internal challenges of the force has made the current situation complex.
According to police headquarters data, since August 5, 2024, over the past 21 months, more than 990 police personnel have been injured while performing their duties. In just the month of May alone, 55 attacks on police occurred across the country. Among these, 9 took place in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) area, 3 in the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) area, 1 in the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) area, 2 in the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) area, 3 in the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) area, 10 in the Dhaka Range, 10 in the Chattogram Range, 2 in the Sylhet Range, 2 in the Khulna Range, 2 in the Barishal Range, 5 in the Rajshahi Range, and 6 in the Rangpur Range. In June so far, approximately 10 more attacks have occurred.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad told Agamir Somoy, "If criminals are not afraid of the police, crime will never decrease. If they think the police will not take any strict action, then they will have no fear. This is the reality of the subcontinent."

Noting that even after two years since August 2024, the police force has not yet fully returned to its previous position, the former IGP said, "One reason for this is a lack of effective leadership. The current leadership should inspire members more and restore their morale. At the same time, for the sake of law and order, the political leadership also needs to cooperate with the police."

Former IGP Ashraful Huda expressed a similar view. He said, "Senior officers must increase their field-level supervision. They need to be present in operations themselves and lead the force. If the police cannot turn around, the safety of ordinary citizens will also be at risk."

What the law enforcement agencies say: Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md. Mosleh Uddin said the force is maintaining a strict stance to control the law-and-order situation. He stated, "We will apply our maximum capability according to the law. In addition to uniformed personnel, plainclothes operations are also ongoing to catch extortionists and snatchers. Special emphasis is being given to motorcycle patrols and intelligence surveillance."

Commander of RAB-2, Additional DIG Noymul Hasan, said, "Incidents like attacks on police will not be tolerated in any way. In line with the government's zero-tolerance policy, stricter operations will be conducted against organized criminal gangs. We do not see the Adabor incident as an isolated snatching case. It is an example of the criminal gangs active in the capital becoming more reckless. For that reason, we are also changing our operational strategies."