Gazipur, one of Bangladesh’s key industrial centres, is facing growing public concern over a series of killings, robberies, extortion, drug-related offences and gang activity. The district, home to major garment, pharmaceutical and ceramic industries, has seen residents increasingly worried about their safety, with insecurity reported on major highways, in industrial areas and even along residential streets.

Residents and businesspeople say conflicts linked to the scrap-garment trade, transport operations, worker recruitment and local dominance frequently create tension. Many victims, they allege, are reluctant to lodge complaints with police because they fear further trouble or retaliation.

Medical student Maisha Fouzía Srijoni, a resident of West Joydebpur, was reportedly robbed while returning home on a motorcycle about two months ago. Her gold earrings were snatched during the incident, leaving her frightened about travelling on local roads.

“Many roads now feel unsafe because of snatchers. Alongside policing, the overall law-and-order system needs to be strengthened so that people can travel safely,” she said.

In Kaliakair, raw-material trader Mohammad Selim said he was attacked after refusing an alleged extortion demand. According to him, several local youths demanded Tk 100,000 from him. When he declined to pay, they allegedly launched a sudden attack, leaving him injured and bleeding.

Some of the most serious incidents reported in recent months have heightened concerns over public safety. On 9 May this year, five members of the same family, including two children, were killed in a brutal incident in Rautkona, Kapasia. The following day, three people were reportedly beaten to death in Bagchala, Kaliakair, on suspicion of cattle theft.

In Gacha, an autorickshaw driver was reportedly killed by having his throat slit. Bodies are also frequently being recovered from roads and highways across the district, adding to concerns about the security of people travelling after dark.

The situation has also affected law-enforcement operations. On 29 April, five people, including four police officers, were injured when police came under attack during an anti-drug operation in the Keranirtek area of Tongi.

Iftikhar Shishir, general secretary of the Gazipur district unit of Shujan, a citizens’ platform for good governance, expressed concern over the law-and-order situation. He said criminals must face swift justice and warned that delays in high-profile murder cases could embolden offenders.

Residents also identify drugs as a major driver of crime. Tongi resident Riaz Hasan said drug-related activities were contributing to a range of offences, including murder and robbery.

“Drugs are now the biggest problem. People involved in the drug trade are contributing to murders, snatching and other crimes. Even after evening falls, people do not feel completely safe,” he said.

Local teacher Miaz Uddin linked the rise in extortion to the recent political transition and called for stronger action by the law-enforcement agencies. He said ordinary people and businesses needed greater protection to move and operate without fear.

The security of Gazipur’s industrial belt is a particular concern for businesses. Trader Zayedul Hamid said the district’s importance to the national economy made public safety a matter of wider economic significance.

“Gazipur is one of the country’s most important industrial areas. If security cannot be ensured here, both industry and investment will face negative consequences. People still do not feel completely safe,” he said.

Lawyer Sirajul Islam of the Gazipur Judge Court also called for stronger measures to ensure the safety of people travelling on highways and moving through industrial and residential areas after evening.

Murder Cases Recorded in Gazipur

Official figures cited by the police show that murder cases have fluctuated significantly over the past several years.

According to Gazipur Metropolitan Police data, 55 murder cases were recorded in the metropolitan area in 2021, rising to 57 in 2022. The number increased sharply to 94 in 2023 and 96 in 2024 before falling to 81 in 2025. A further 27 murder cases had been recorded up to July this year.

District Police data from the office of the additional superintendent of police for crime show a similar fluctuation across the district’s five police stations. There were 27 murder cases in 2021, 34 in 2022, 43 in 2023, 37 in 2024 and 32 in 2025. By July this year, 18 cases had been recorded.

The scale of abnormal deaths is also reflected in records from the forensic department of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital. The department received 685 bodies for post-mortem examination in 2021, followed by 634 in 2022, 665 in 2023, 780 in 2024 and 830 in 2025. Up to 9 July this year, 535 bodies had been brought for examination. The cases included deaths resulting from alleged murder, suicide, road crashes and other unnatural causes.

Police officials, however, dispute the perception that crime is worsening across the district and maintain that the overall situation has improved compared with previous years. They say Gazipur’s large industrial population and extensive transport links make it attractive to criminals from other parts of the country, some of whom allegedly enter the district, hide temporarily and become involved in drugs, snatching and robbery before leaving the area after committing offences.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Crime) Md Belayet Hossain said the number of murders in the metropolitan area had fallen compared with the previous year. He said police were giving priority to solving murder cases and bringing those responsible to justice.

He added that regular operations were also being conducted against snatching, robbery, drugs and organised crime, stressing that offenders would not be allowed to escape accountability.

Gazipur Superintendent of Police Md Sharif Uddin said district police were working continuously to maintain law and order. According to him, most reported incidents had been investigated and efforts to arrest those involved were continuing. Police patrols and intelligence surveillance had also been strengthened, he said.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Israel Howlader said police were carrying out their responsibilities with the highest level of professionalism to ensure public security.

Despite these assurances, residents and businesses continue to demand visible improvements in security, particularly on highways and in industrial and residential areas after dark. For a district that plays a significant role in Bangladesh’s manufacturing economy, the challenge is not only to investigate crimes after they occur, but also to strengthen preventive policing and restore public confidence in everyday safety.