Bangladeshi independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana has expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating law and order conditions in the country. She highlighted a report from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) indicating a significant increase in murder, abduction, and violence against women during the first 100 days of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government led by Tarique Rahman. Farhana, addressing the Parliament, pointed out the absence of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and emphasized the alarming statistics, including 605 murders, 294 muggings, 90 robberies, and 196 abductions in just two months.
Farhana also drew attention to the rise in attacks on the police force, with 129 incidents reported, along with 2,214 theft cases. The lawmaker highlighted the distressing figures related to violence against women and children, such as 3,496 reported cases of abuse, including various forms of rape. She stressed the gravity of the situation, stating that these statistics underscore the fragile and concerning state of law and order within a short period. Farhana emphasized that the economy and law enforcement are crucial indicators of a government’s performance and lamented the absence of the home minister to address these failures.
Recently, the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) in Dhaka also expressed grave concerns over public safety, the rule of law, and human rights violations in the country. According to MSF’s latest findings, there were 32 fatalities in separate incidents in May, with an additional 53 unidentified bodies discovered across various regions. The report highlighted a significant increase in critical injuries, with 71 individuals severely wounded in 69 different incidents, indicating a troubling trend of vigilante justice. The MSF report noted a concerning escalation in mob violence, with a notable shift towards extrajudicial actions by citizens.
The data revealed a consistent surge in fatalities, with escalating numbers recorded in recent months. Among the 32 deaths in May, several were linked to allegations of theft, altercations, robbery, and sexual offenses. The report underscored a worrying pattern of individuals taking the law into their own hands, reflecting a broader breakdown in law enforcement and public safety measures.
