1,042 attacks carried out on policemen in 21 months: PHQ data

Attacks on police continue unabated in different parts of the country, but members of the force rarely retaliate on the spot.

Experts said that attacks on police members could create a sense of confidence among offenders.
A total of 1,042 attacks were carried out on police members across the country in the 21 months from January 2025 to September this year, according to Police Headquarters (PHQ). Of them, 602 attacks took place in 2025 and the remaining 440 in the first nine months of this year.

According to the Bangladesh Police Service Association, four policemen were killed and 370 others injured in 176 attacks on police while on duty in the last 10 months of this year.

In a statement on Tuesday, the association said an environment must be created in which police can work lawfully, impartially, professionally and without fear. The statement was signed by its General Secretary and Dhaka district Superintendent of Police Shamima Parvin. It also described the recent remarks on “crossfire” as a “timely call”.

Police in peril

On the afternoon of 24 October, five policemen were on patrol in the Raghunathpur ferry ghat area of Gopalganj Sadar when a group of men, identified as members of the banned Chhatra League and Jubo League, attacked them and vandalised their van, injuring two policemen. A video of the incident shows that police took no action against the attackers at the time.

Later, a case was filed and more than 25 people were arrested, according to Gopalganj police.

On 15 October, a group of people equipped with lethal weapons attacked the Joydebpur railway police outpost in Gazipur to snatch two men arrested on charges of drug dealing, leaving two policemen seriously injured.

On the night of 9 October, Inspector Shah Alam of the Khulna district circle office was attacked by three unidentified muggers in front of Collegiate School under Khulna Sadar Police Station while travelling by rickshaw.

Following the attack on the inspector and recent attacks on some other law enforcers, Khulna Metropolitan Police issued a security alert directing police members not to travel alone at night.

On 4 October last year, an eight-member police team led by Additional SP Anwar Hossain was trying to stop extortion at Arshinagar in Narsingdi town. The extortionists then attacked the additional SP, but the police did not retaliate, according to a video.

Regarding retaliation, police spokesperson Kamarum Munira, also an assistant inspector general (AIG), told the Daily Sun that police consider the situation.

“If they see the situation is not favourable for them to retaliate, they do not. Later, they file cases and the accused are arrested,” she said.

Culture of impunity

Former inspector general of police (IGP) Baharul Alam said these incidents were occurring mainly because of a culture of impunity, in which crimes go unpunished.

“The ruling party and the government must allow police to work within the law. Otherwise, there will be nothing called law and order,” he said.

Expressing regret, he said an additional superintendent of police was assaulted in Narsingdi while he was IGP, but he could not ensure that justice was done in the case.

“Now the government and the people must understand who will control the law and order situation without police. At least on this ground, police should be allowed to do their job,” he added.

Retired additional IGP Dr M Akbar Ali, president of the Bangladesh Retired Police Officers Welfare Association, told the Daily Sun that police are yet to regain the mental strength they lost during the July mass upsurge in 2024.

“Now police do not even dare to protect themselves. A police commission was drafted by the interim government, but it was nipped in the bud. If the mental strength of the police is not restored, the law and order situation will deteriorate in future,” he said.

Referring to the recent speech by IGP Ali Hossain Fakir, he said the IGP had said police would go for crossfire if the government allowed it.

“If a criminal fires on or attacks police, police can retaliate, and that is called crossfire. Just by speaking about crossfire, the IGP is in danger. If the police chief faces this, other members can do nothing,” he said.

Rezaul Karim Sohag, assistant professor of criminology at Dhaka University, said the main purpose of ensuring punishment for offenders is to control crime, but in most cases offenders are not being brought under the law, so the same crimes keep recurring.

Referring to the attacks on police, he said, “It is alarming that such incidents are continuing. It is also reducing people’s trust in police.”

The criminologist also feared that such incidents could create a sense of confidence among offenders.