Dhaka’s worsening crime situation has become one of the most pressing challenges facing the government. The recent remarks of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed that a specific action plan has been adopted to control crime in the capital, particularly in crime-prone areas such as Mohammadpur, are encouraging in principle. However, citizens are no longer looking for promises, plans, or assurances. They want visible results. The growing number of murders, robberies, muggings, and attacks on law enforcement personnel demands urgent and effective action.
Recent incidents have exposed the alarming state of public security in the capital. The tragic death of pharmaceutical company employee Soheli Islam after a mugging attempt near Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and the earlier death of housewife Mukta Akter in a similar incident reveal how violent and reckless criminal activities have become. Such cases are no longer isolated events. Media reports on armed robberies, shootings, and attacks on ordinary citizens are appearing with disturbing frequency, creating fear among residents and undermining confidence in law enforcement.
What makes the situation even more concerning is that law enforcement agencies are often not dealing with unknown criminals. Police records themselves indicate that hundreds of active muggers and more than a hundred organized criminal gangs are operating in Dhaka. In many high-profile incidents, suspects later arrested were already known to the authorities and had previous criminal records. This naturally raises an important question: if the identities of these criminals are already known, why are they able to continue their activities with such impunity?
A recurring criticism is that strong action is often taken only after a crime receives widespread media coverage or goes viral on social media. While swift responses to high-profile incidents are welcome, policing cannot depend on public outrage. Effective law enforcement requires consistent preventive measures, intelligence-based operations, and continuous monitoring of known criminal networks. Waiting for crimes to attract public attention before acting only allows criminal groups to grow stronger.
Equally troubling is the slow pace of investigations and the failure to bring masterminds to justice. Police may arrest street-level offenders, but the organisers, financiers, and patrons of criminal gangs often remain untouched. Many accused individuals secure bail and return to criminal activities because investigations remain incomplete or prosecutions are weak. This cycle of arrest, release, and reoffending undermines public trust and emboldens criminals.
Experts have correctly pointed out that crime control is not solely a policing issue. It also requires reforms in the criminal justice system, stronger accountability, and more efficient prosecution. Delays in submitting charge sheets, weaknesses in investigations, and inadequate coordination among law enforcement agencies contribute to the persistence of crime. The government’s “Punishment and Reward” policy within the police force is a positive step, but it must be implemented rigorously. Officers who perform their duties with integrity should be rewarded, while negligence, corruption, and incompetence must face swift consequences.
Strong leadership, clear directives, and regular evaluation of crime-control efforts are essential. The police force must be fully empowered, properly supervised, and held accountable for results.
The public wants to see decisive action against criminals, not merely hear about action plans. Effective planning, professional policing, and the certainty of punishment through a functioning justice system are the keys to restoring public confidence. Crime control should be the government’s highest priority at this moment. If criminal activities continue unchecked, not only will public safety deteriorate further, but serious questions will also arise about the state’s ability to uphold law and order. The time for promises has passed; the time for results has arrived.
