Police remain under relentless attack

Police officers are coming under attack while trying execute a warrant or even being dispatched. Accused individuals are being snatched away by the cohorts from custodies with handcuffs on. In some places, attackers are breaking into police stations and hacking officers to death. Traffic police are being publicly beaten while performing their duties on the roads. In the latest incident, a member of the Police Special Branch (SB) was beaten to death in Aminbazar, Savar.

As such incidents continue one after another, questions are being raised: Has the police force itself become an easy target for criminals while trying to enforce the law? Meanwhile, crime experts attribute the failure to restore morale among field-level officers to the apathy of high-ranking officials. They argue that morale cannot be restored simply by sitting in air-conditioned offices and issuing instructions.

Headquarters statistics regarding attacks on police reveal an alarming picture. In the seven months from January to July this year, 361 police personnel were injured in separate attacks—an average of more than 51 injured every month. Prior to this, 601 officers were injured in attacks while performing their duties in 2025. In total, 962 police members have been injured in attacks over the last 19 months.

It is not just attacks; incidents of snatching accused individuals from police custody are also occurring repeatedly. From January last year to February this year, 10 accused individuals were snatched away following attacks on police officers.

According to crime analysts, systematic attacks on the police not only deal a heavy blow to the force's morale but are also directly tied to the state's capacity to enforce the law. If the police force becomes weakened, criminals may grow even bolder. Therefore, along with ensuring swift and exemplary legal action in cases of attacks on officers on duty, analysts emphasize enhancing training, safety gear, risk assessment, and psychological support for field-level personnel.

However, former police officials stress that restoring morale requires top officers to be present directly on the ground, rather than merely issuing directives.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ashraful Huda told Agamir Somoy that the police force has still not fully recovered since August 5, 2024 onslaught. In his view, senior officials should go out to the field to encourage force members. This would boost their courage and keep them from feeling leaderless.

Former IGP Nur Mohammad also emphasized the need to give police officers the opportunity to perform their duties effectively. Alongside ensuring a work environment compliant with the Police Regulations of Bengal (PRB), he advised senior officers not to remain confined to their offices, but rather to stand alongside police personnel on the ground. He also suggested delivering directional speeches at events like police station 'Open House Days.'

Nur Mohammad said that police must be given the courage to treat criminals strictly as criminals. If the police force cannot stand back on its feet, ordinary citizens will not feel safe either, leading to inevitable negative impacts across every layer of society.

SB Member Beaten to Death

The latest major incident of an attack on police took place last Saturday in Aminbazar, Savar, where Sub-Inspector (SI) Altab Hossain of the Police Special Branch (SB) was reportedly beaten to death. His son, Md. Arif Hossain, is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital.

According to police claims, a private car driver named Zahirul Islam is allegedly involved in the incident. Police said that he is a local leader of the Ward Jubo Dal.

Just a day prior, on September 4, police officers came under attack in the Wireless More area of Chattogram while attempting to arrest Wakil Hossain Boga, a listed top criminal.

Earlier this year, on January 13, five police officers were hacked and injured while attempting to arrest an accused in the Digarkanda Fishery More area of Mymensingh.
Here is the English translation of the news article:

Even Traffic Police Are Not Safe

Police members are facing attacks not only during raids or attempts to arrest suspects, but also while performing routine duties on the roads.

On March 10, 2025, traffic police officer Shaheen Hossain was attacked while on duty in Fatullah, Narayanganj, by an individual identifying himself as a "coordinator." On the same day in Savar, a female constable was severely beaten with an iron rod following a minor dispute.

On March 1 of last year, a political leader named Shaon Islam Sabuj allegedly punched traffic constable K. M. Shariful Islam in the nose, injuring him while he was on duty in Jashore. On October 5, 2025, an Additional Superintendent of Police was injured in an attack while attempting to control extortion in the transport sector in Narsingdi. Recently, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Capital’s Pallabi Police Station, Nazrul Islam, along with three other police officers, fell victim to attacks on the road.

Attacks on police officers have been reported across various regions, including Mohammadpur, Savar, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Jashore, and Moulvibazar. In several cases, accused individuals were snatched from police custody following the attacks.

82 Injured in January, 42 in July

According to data from Police Headquarters, 82 police members were injured in attacks in each of the first two months—January and February—of this year. Subsequently, 63 were injured in March, 66 in April, 55 in May, 51 in June, and 42 in July.

Earlier in 2025, a total of 601 police personnel were injured in attacks. On a monthly basis, 38 were injured in January, 37 in February, 96 in March, 52 in April, 62 in May, 44 in June, 39 in July, 51 in August, 43 in September, 69 in October, 41 in November, and 41 in December.

Among metropolitan police units, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) recorded the highest number of injuries in the first seven months of this year, with 42 personnel injured. In 2025, a total of 89 DMP members sustained injuries. Among range police divisions, the Dhaka Range reported the highest number of casualties, according to Police Headquarters.

Attacked with Machetes and Iron Rods

On January 12 this year, police officer Shahidul Islam was critically injured while trying to bring a conflict under control in Laukathi, Patuakhali Sadar Upazila. He was hacked with a machete and beaten with iron rods. He later has been attached to the Barguna District Special Branch (DSB). His younger brother, Anisur Rahman Moni, a member of the Department of Prisons, was also injured in the same incident.

On February 5, four police personnel, including three Sub-Inspectors (SIs), were severely injured when attacked by a youth gang during an anti-narcotics drive in Rayerbazar, Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

Officials concerned noted that recurring attacks while on duty are breeding panic and frustration among field-level officers. Besides sustaining severe injuries, some members have lost their lives. As a result, restoring the force’s overall morale is taking time.

However, many field-level officers point fingers at senior leadership for taking a superficial approach to the situation. In their view, issuing directives from air-conditioned offices without understanding ground realities fails to instill confidence and courage among field officers.

According to Police Headquarters, 44 police officers and personnel were killed during the July-August movement in 2024. Financial assistance has been provided to their families, and medical treatment arrangements have been made for the injured police members.
Demand for Immediate Formation of a Police Commission

Demands are growing stronger among field-level police members for the immediate formation of a Police Commission and the implementation of the Reform Commission’s recommendations. According to them, administrative reform alone will not suffice. Creating a police force free from political influence, ensuring the safety of field personnel, and restoring public trust in the police must proceed simultaneously.

This is because one of the primary prerequisites for an effective law enforcement system is ensuring that officers remain safe while carrying out their duties. If police officers themselves back down out of fear of attacks by criminals, ensuring the safety of the general public will become exceedingly difficult.

Message of International Police Cooperation Day

Today, September 7, is International Police Cooperation Day. The UN General Assembly designated this day through a resolution adopted on December 16, 2022. The day was observed globally for the first time in 2023.

On September 7, 1923, the predecessor to Interpol, the International Criminal Police Commission, was established. To mark the centenary of Interpol’s founding, September 7 was chosen as International Police Cooperation Day.

The primary objective of this day is to strengthen mutual cooperation among law enforcement agencies worldwide to combat transnational crime, counter terrorism, and ensure global security.