Surge in Bloodshed Reveals Fragile State of National Security

As 2025 draws to a close, Bangladesh finds itself grappling with a profound security crisis marked by a staggering rise in homicides and brazen daylight assassinations. Data reveals that over a thousand individuals were murdered across the country this year, painting a grim picture of a law enforcement apparatus struggling to maintain order. From territorial disputes and extortion to ideological clashes, the motives vary, yet the common denominator remains a pervasive sense of impunity.

The year was punctuated by high-profile killings that shocked the public consciousness. On 24 December, a Chhatra Dal leader was hacked to death in Bhola whilst travelling to the capital to welcome BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Earlier in the month, the academic community was left reeling after Shakibul Hasan Rana, a brilliant science student at Tejgaon College, succumbed to injuries sustained during a violent internal feud over drug use. Perhaps most significant was the assassination of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot in broad daylight on 12 December; despite being rushed to Singapore for advanced medical care, he passed away on 18 December.

The violence has not been restricted to political or ideological rivalries. In Mymensingh’s Bhaluka, the horrific lynching and burning of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das—accused of blasphemy—underscored a breakdown in the rule of law. Furthermore, the resurgence of notorious underworld “top terrorists” who were released following the political shifts of the previous year has added a lethal layer to the urban landscape. Notable victims include underworld figure Sarwar Hossain Babla in Chattogram and the listed criminal Tariq Saif Mamun, who was gunned down near the busy court precincts in Dhaka.

National Crime and Fatality Statistics (2025 Summary)

Despite these alarming trends, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has maintained a stoic front, asserting that security will remain stable ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 2026. However, analysts are less optimistic. They point to the proliferation of illegal firearms, weakened policing structures, and the re-emergence of organised criminal syndicates as primary catalysts for the current instability.

Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) data highlights the escalating nature of the crisis, noting that November alone saw 96 incidents of political violence. The sheer audacity of these crimes was captured in a viral CCTV clip from Pallabi, showing the murder of Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria inside a shop; when the fleeing assassins encountered a rickshaw-puller who refused to speed away, they shot him as well without hesitation. As the nation prepares for a pivotal democratic transition, the “shaky” security environment remains the most significant hurdle to a peaceful electoral process.