The growing mugging crisis across the capital is no longer merely a matter of public safety; it has also become a serious threat to one of the country’s key foreign currency–earning industries — the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. Most of these BPO companies, which manage back-office operations for foreign organisations, operate in alignment with time zones in the United States and Europe. As a result, the primary working hours for employees extend from late night to early morning in Bangladesh. After working throughout the night, many employees returning home at dawn are increasingly becoming prime targets for muggers.
Industry insiders report that incidents of assault, mugging and physical harassment targeting BPO employees have increased alarmingly in various parts of the capital in recent months. Victims are not only attacked while returning from work but, in many cases, are also falling prey to criminals in alleys close to their own homes. This situation has created extreme fear among employees and has placed companies at a new level of operational risk.
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Night Shifts and Risky Dawn Commutes
The majority of international BPO firms operating in Bangladesh follow a “time-zone–dependent” work model. In particular, companies providing back-office services to US-based firms operate during Bangladesh’s nighttime hours. Employees typically begin their shifts in the evening or at night and finish work in the early morning.
Although some organisations provide their own transportation, these arrangements are not sufficient for all employees. In most cases, office vehicles drop workers at nearby main roads or intersections rather than directly at their homes. From there, employees must walk or take rickshaws through dark, deserted streets or narrow lanes — often the most dangerous part of their journey.
Many employees also commute using personal vehicles, especially motorcycles. After working overnight, travelling along empty roads at dawn makes them easy targets for criminals. Incidents of motorcycle-riding BPO employees being stopped and robbed of mobile phones, laptops and cash are increasing across the capital. In many cases, victims are physically assaulted if they attempt to resist.
Industry sources claim that over the past several months, numerous BPO employees have been attacked while returning from work. Some have been stabbed, some beaten severely, and others have suffered serious injuries that kept them away from work for extended periods.
Insecurity Even in Residential Alleys
An even more alarming aspect of the situation is that muggings are no longer limited to main roads or isolated areas. Many BPO employees report being attacked near their homes, even within their own residential lanes. Criminals often lie in wait and strike when they find an opportunity.
As a result, a persistent psychological fear has developed among workers. Many are becoming reluctant to work night shifts, while anxiety among family members is worsening the situation. This mental stress is negatively affecting employees’ stability, concentration and productivity.
Time-Bound Work and Rising Risk of Contract Loss
The BPO industry operates under strict time-bound and contract-based commitments. Foreign companies impose rigid deadlines, and failure to deliver services on time can lead to cancellation of contracts. The termination of a major contract can cause severe financial losses and may even threaten the entire operation of a company.
In such circumstances, if an important employee or a key departmental figure becomes a victim of mugging and remains absent due to injury, the entire department may effectively come to a halt. If a critical unit stops functioning, it becomes impossible to complete work within deadlines, increasing the risk of losing the trust of international clients.
Entrepreneurs note that the BPO sector is already operating amid numerous challenges, including intense global competition, dollar shortages, technological infrastructural limitations and the struggle to meet the demand for skilled manpower. The added burden of employee security concerns has made the situation even more complex.
Emerging Uncertainty for a Promising Foreign Currency–Earning Sector
Over the past decade, Bangladesh’s BPO sector has emerged as one of the country’s most promising sources of foreign currency earnings. This information technology–driven service industry has created extensive employment opportunities for young people and strengthened Bangladesh’s position in the global market. Domestic firms now provide a wide range of services — including call centre operations, data processing, software support, financial back-office services and medical transcription — earning the confidence of international clients.
However, the escalating mugging crisis in the capital is directly affecting the stability of this sector. If employees’ morale declines due to safety concerns and reluctance to work night shifts increases, the delivery of uninterrupted, internationally standard services may be severely disrupted. Should this situation persist, foreign clients may begin to consider Bangladesh an unsafe operational destination. This could lead not only to a decline in new investments but also to the potential cancellation of existing contracts.
Industry stakeholders fear that unless employee safety can be ensured, many companies may be forced to reduce night shifts. Yet, given the nature of international operations, cutting night shifts would directly reduce service capacity. Consequently, the country’s growth in ICT-enabled service exports may suffer.
Fear Persists as Violence Escalates
Although law enforcement agencies have announced various initiatives to address the crisis, many BPO employees allege that visible improvements on the ground remain limited. Despite declarations of intensified patrols in high-risk areas, security presence is often insufficient.
Meanwhile, muggers have become increasingly violent. Whereas previously criminals might flee after intimidating victims, they now resort to attacks with sharp weapons at the slightest sign of delay or resistance. In many cases, they assault victims without warning and escape swiftly. As a result, many victims suffer severe injuries, with some losing their ability to work for extended periods.
Young professionals working in the BPO sector report feeling deeply insecure. They believe that although they contribute to the national economy by fulfilling international responsibilities throughout the night, their own personal safety remains unprotected.
Industry Demands Urgent Measures
Entrepreneurs and stakeholders in the BPO sector warn that failure to ensure employee safety could place this promising industry at severe risk. They stress that special police patrols must be strengthened during late-night and early-morning hours in residential areas, commercial zones and along routes frequently used by employees. They further urge law enforcement agencies to classify the period from midnight to early morning as high-risk hours and to maintain a strong visible presence to deter criminal activity.
Stakeholders also emphasise the need to increase motorcycle patrols and conduct regular inspections of suspicious vehicles, particularly as most recent muggings have been carried out using high-speed motorcycles. Strict monitoring of motorcycles and CNG auto-rickshaws operating without number plates could significantly reduce such crimes.
Ensuring swift investigation and speedy trials for mugging-related cases is also considered crucial. Industry representatives argue that a culture of impunity encourages criminals. Easy bail procedures and lengthy judicial delays allow offenders to return quickly to criminal activities. They believe that prompt justice and exemplary punishment would substantially reduce crime rates.
Entrepreneurs further highlight the necessity of incentives and government assistance to ensure safe transportation for employees. Although many companies wish to provide dedicated transport services, the additional costs often make this impractical. Government support through policy incentives or transport safety programmes could greatly reduce risks faced by employees.
Protecting Economic Interests Through Ensuring Security
According to industry stakeholders, the BPO sector is not merely a commercial industry but a vital driving force of the country’s digital economy. It is generating employment for thousands of young professionals and opening new avenues for foreign currency earnings. Therefore, ensuring the safety of employees in this sector means not only protecting individuals but also safeguarding national economic interests.
The rising mugging crisis in the capital is now directly linked to economic security. For time-sensitive and internationally connected industries such as BPO, ensuring safe commuting for employees is essential. Otherwise, the country’s global reputation, foreign contracts and employment opportunities for thousands of young people may all face serious risk simultaneously.
Experts emphasise that effective, coordinated and visible measures to combat mugging are now an urgent necessity. Failure to act decisively may lead to a far-reaching economic crisis in the future.