Horrific crimes such as murder, robbery, theft, and dacoity have surged alarmingly across the country. As night falls, control of the streets increasingly shifts into the hands of these criminals. In particular, the fear of muggings has spread among ordinary citizens in the capital. Although there have been over a thousand reported muggings in the capital alone, only about fifty victims have filed complaints with the police. Most of these incidents remain unrecorded in police crime statistics.
Rise in Crimes Fueled by Looted Weapons
Crimes such as murder, robbery, theft, and dacoity have risen significantly across the country. As night deepens, the streets fall increasingly under the control of criminals. In the capital, there is a growing fear of muggings, with many incidents going unreported. Despite over a thousand muggings in Dhaka, only about fifty victims have filed complaints, leaving most cases unrecorded in official crime statistics.
From August 5 to August 30, following the change in government, 29 murders were reported in Dhaka. The number increased in September and October, with over 200 bodies recovered in connection to various crimes, including more than 100 murders. Compared to 56 murders from August to October of last year, recent months have seen around 130, leading crime analysts to attribute this to a spike in looted police weapons.
Looted Weapons Enter Underworld
According to police headquarters, a total of 5,829 firearms and 651,609 rounds of ammunition have been looted from police stations, jails, and other institutions. So far, 4,283 weapons and 388,182 rounds of ammunition have been recovered, with 1,546 firearms still missing. Since September 4, joint forces have retrieved 389 more firearms, but it remains uncertain if any of these belong to those looted from elite security agencies.
These weapons include sophisticated assault rifles, sniper rifles, flashbang grenades, anti-drone systems, and over 32 heavy firearms yet to be recovered. The looted arsenal was initially stored by elite guards in secure locations, but after protesters breached certain government buildings, these weapons went missing.
Police Measures and Joint Operations
Assistant Inspector General (Media) Enamul Haque Sagor stated, “Around 75% of the weapons and 60% of the ammunition have been recovered. Joint forces have been conducting operations across the capital, establishing both permanent and temporary checkpoints and increasing motorcycle patrols after 10 PM to curb crime.”
Despite these efforts, a significant portion of the missing weapons is believed to have entered the underworld. Intelligence sources indicate that notorious groups across Dhaka have acquired these weapons, with some reports even revealing Israeli-made Uzi pistols in the Geneva Camp area.
Surge in Mugging Incidents
Muggings have escalated due to reduced police patrols at night. After 10 PM, quiet areas in neighborhoods have become targets, with armed criminals threatening and robbing passersby. Attempts to resist have even led to fatalities, with four people killed in the past three months.
To tackle this, joint operations are ongoing, alongside increased patrols to reduce mugging incidents. A former police chief has emphasized the need to increase night patrols to ensure public safety, as limited personnel and resources are major challenges in the ongoing recovery of looted weapons.
