Kidnapping cases double in one year in Bangladesh
The rate of kidnapping-related crimes in the country is increasing alarmingly. In the past one year this rate has more than doubled. In the eight months from January to August of the current year, 715 people have fallen victim to kidnapping. In the same period last year this number was 340.
In terms of kidnapping, the month of July this year set a record. In this one month 109 people were kidnapped. And in the past eight months, on average more than three people have been kidnapped every day. This picture indicates a major deterioration of the law and order situation.
These figures have been revealed from the monthly crime statistics published by the Bangladesh Police Headquarters. Although the observations of various human rights organizations working on the country’s law and order situation show some numerical differences, the overall picture of rising crime is more or less the same.
Assistant Inspector General (Media & PR) of Police Headquarters H. M. Shahadat Hossain said, “From the law and order forces, crime data is published every month. Through this, an idea is obtained about the contemporary crime ‘trend.’ Sometimes some crimes increase, sometimes they decrease. For the crimes that increase, we take strict measures.”
In 2024, a total of 642 people were kidnapped. Among them, in January 51, in February 43, in March 51, in April 55, in May 50, in June 31, in July 32, in August 27, in September 65, in October 96, in November 67, and in December 74 people were kidnapped. Among them, in the first eight months up to August, 340 people were kidnapped.
At that time the monthly average was 42.5 kidnappings. In the same period of the current year, this average has risen to 89.38; which is more than double compared to last year.
Among these, in July of the current year 109 people were kidnapped, which the research organization Center for Governance Studies (CGS) has said is the highest as a single month in the past six years. Besides this, in January this year 105 people, in February 78, in March 83, in April 88, in May 82, in June 80, and in August 90 people were kidnapped.
In the recently published CGS report Bangladesh Crime Reports 2020–25; A Data-Driven Look at Rising Crime Trends, concern has been expressed in this regard. The report states, “In 2025, the average number of kidnappings per month has been 86.17, which last year was 53.5. Compared to the previous year, kidnappings have increased by 61.07 percent. This is the highest record in the past six years.”
The chairman of the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Z. I. Khan Panna, said, “The number of cases we see, the actual incidents are more than that. In many cases, without government backing, cases cannot be filed. Now in the country there is no law, and no rule of law. As a result, crime has not decreased, rather it has increased.”
Analyzing police crime data shows that since September of last year the rate of kidnapping increased abnormally. In the last four months of last year, on average 2.52 people were kidnapped per day. As a result, the daily average number of kidnappings that year stood at 1.76 people. In the first eight months of the current year, this trend has increased further. In this period, on average 2.98 people were kidnapped daily. Before this, from 2020 to 2023, the daily average number of kidnappings was up to 1.33.
Society and crime expert Dr. Touhidul Haque said, “When any crime increases, the law enforcement agencies try to present some reason to legitimize it. Instead of trying to control crime, standing on such explanations by the controllers is a sign of unprofessionalism. Because of this attempt, criminals get opportunities in various ways. As the police are used for political purposes, they suppress different groups and opinions. As a result, the level of crime in society increases further.”
He said, “An average of three kidnappings per day means there is a major deficiency in the rule of law in the country.”
Crime is Increasing Due to Unemployment
Crime experts say, because of political and family enmity, rape, and various other reasons, crimes like kidnapping occur in society. However, in the country most kidnappings occur for financial reasons. In incidents such as kidnapping for ransom, not only extortionist gangs are involved, but also family, close relatives, and neighbors are often found to be connected. In the present context, most families run on the earnings of one person. When suddenly his income stops and many family members are dependent on his earnings, then after a period without work, first they live on savings. Then they take loans. At one stage, they get involved in various crimes.
On September 11 of this year, in the final report of the latest labor force survey published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), it was said that within one year the number of unemployed has increased by 160,000. Until December 31, 2024, this number was 2.62 million.
Three Recent Kidnapping Incidents
On September 17 in Patiya, Chattogram, poultry trader Nurul Absar was abducted at gunpoint by criminals. They took the 40,000 taka he had in his pocket. Later they demanded 1.7 million taka as ransom. However, due to police activity, he was rescued within two hours.
In Cumilla, 36 days after the abduction, the skull of victim rickshaw-puller Mehedi Hasan was recovered by CID from a bush in Nabipur Paschim Union’s Uttar Trish area. On September 17 afternoon, along with the recovery of the dead body, three of his abductors were arrested. Officer-in-Charge of Bangra Bazar Police Station Mahfuzur Rahman said that the abductors confessed that Mehedi was killed for the purpose of snatching his autorickshaw.
Meanwhile, over the collection of owed money, on September 15, Md. Sani Ahmed, son of Shawban Hossain of Daipukuria-Bagbari village in Shibganj, was kidnapped. Later that night, police rescued him from Golapbazar in Mobarakpur Union of Chapainawabganj. After the kidnapping, his family was demanded a ransom of 800,000 taka. In connection with that kidnapping, five people were arrested.
