A worrying rise in homicide cases has been reported across the country, driven largely by domestic disputes, struggles for dominance, drug-related activities, land conflicts, and factional violence. In several instances, victims have been killed by close relatives, underscoring the growing intensity of interpersonal and familial tensions.
In just five districts within a 24-hour period, at least 10 people were killed. In Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila, police recovered three blood-stained bodies from a remote hilly area. In Naogaon’s Niamatpur upazila, a couple and their two children were reportedly murdered in their home. In Feni’s Daganbhuiyan, a man was killed by his younger brother in a dispute involving an iron rod. In Kushtia’s Kumarkhali, another man died after being stabbed by his younger brother amid a family conflict.
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National homicide trend (Police Headquarters data)
| Period | Number of murders | Average per month |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar 2024 | 710 | 236 |
| Jan–Mar 2025 | 750 | 250 |
| Jan–Mar 2026 | 854 | 284 |
Police data show a steady upward trend. In the first three months of 2026 alone, 854 murder cases were recorded, compared with 750 in the same period of 2025 and 710 in 2024. Officials note that some 2025 monthly figures also included previously unresolved cases from earlier incidents, slightly affecting comparisons.
In February and March 2025, several older cases were reclassified within new filings, with 83 such cases included in February and 77 in March.
Arms and security concerns
Following the political change on 5 August 2024, a large number of weapons were looted from police installations nationwide. According to official figures, 5,763 firearms and 652,008 rounds of ammunition were stolen. Of these, 1,323 firearms and 257,144 rounds of ammunition remain unrecovered, raising ongoing security concerns among law enforcement analysts.
Other criminal activity trends
| Crime type | 2024 (Jan–Mar) | 2025 (Jan–Mar) | 2026 (Jan–Mar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robbery | 87 | 205 | 133 |
| Snatching | 373 | 495 | 439 |
| Theft | 2,434 | 2,336 | 2,318 |
| Kidnapping cases | 145 | 266 | 253 |
| Rape cases | 3,923 | 4,924 | 3,947 |
While robbery and theft show some fluctuations, kidnapping and violent crime remain persistently high. Police also report increasing attacks on officers, with 147 incidents recorded in the first three months of 2026. In the same period, 171 officers were injured in 2025 and 123 in 2024.
Recent high-profile killings
Several recent incidents highlight the severity of the situation:
- In Pallabi, a 68-year-old schoolteacher was beaten to death in her rented home.
- In Jatrabari, a college student was killed and several family members injured in a dispute over money.
- In Mohammadpur, two separate killings occurred within four days, including a gang-related stabbing linked to territorial disputes.
- In the city centre, a content creator was shot and stabbed following a personal dispute.
- In Motijheel, a young man was murdered and dismembered by his roommate, who later confessed.
Security analysts and police officials continue to stress the importance of recovering looted arms and strengthening coordinated operations to prevent further deterioration of public safety.