Police under attack: 317 officers assaulted in six months

Law enforcers tasked with protecting public safety are increasingly finding themselves vulnerable, with hundreds of police personnel attacked across Bangladesh in recent months. At least 317 police members were assaulted between January and June this year, according to data from the Police Headquarters, triggering concerns over the safety and morale of the force.

The latest incidents have highlighted the growing risks faced by police officers in the line of duty. On July 22, Sub-Inspector (SI) Osman Gani of the Special Branch (SB) of Police was stabbed by an unidentified attacker while returning home with his wife and only child in Mohammadpur’s Kaderabad Housing area in Dhaka.

The attack left SI Osman critically injured. He initially received treatment at a nearby clinic before being taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and later to the Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh. Doctors stitched 45 wounds on his back. Police later arrested four people from Chattogram on allegations of involvement in the attack.

Just days later, another police officer came under attack. On July 25, SI Mobinul Islam of Double Mooring Police Station in Chattogram was injured while attempting to arrest an accused in a narcotics case. Criminals allegedly attacked him, leaving injuries on his head and other parts of his body.

Police Headquarters statistics show that 42 police personnel were attacked in January, 42 in February, 63 in March, 66 in April, 55 in May and 49 in June this year.

The data also shows that 601 police members were attacked in 2025, 643 in 2024, 607 in 2023, 601 in 2022, 608 in 2021, 449 in 2020 and 555 in 2019. Overall, 4,381 police personnel faced attacks between 2019 and June 2026.

Earlier on June 16, two police officers were injured during an operation against alleged robbers in Dhaka’s Adabor area. The officers came under attack while raiding a hideout of suspected criminals behind Delta Garments. Police later opened fire in self-defence, injuring two suspects.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said after the incident that police were forced to use firearms after being attacked with weapons.

Despite repeated attacks, police officials said they do not have complete data on how many cases have resulted in convictions.

Human rights activist and executive chief of the Manobadhikar Sanskriti Foundation (MSF) Advocate Saidur Rahman said repeated attacks have affected police morale. He alleged that a lack of accountability in previous incidents has contributed to a sense of frustration among law enforcers.

However, Police Headquarters Additional Inspector General (Crime and Operations) Khondkar Rafiqul Islam said the tendency of taking the law into one’s own hands has declined compared to the past. He said police are taking strict legal action against those involved in attacks on officers.

“Due to increased risks, police personnel have been instructed to conduct operations with adequate preparation and manpower,” he said.

Criminologists believe restoring public confidence in law enforcement and ensuring impartial policing are essential to reducing attacks on police.

Dr Touhidul Haque, associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at the University of Dhaka, said attacks on law enforcers represent disrespect towards the law itself. He added that declining public trust in police, particularly following recent political unrest, has contributed to the growing challenges.

He said police must work independently and free from political influence to rebuild public confidence.

Police Headquarters Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations) AHM Shahadat Hossain said police officers are often attacked while following internationally accepted standards of force during operations.

He said legal action has been taken in every case of attack on police and many perpetrators have already been arrested, while efforts are continuing to apprehend others.

Regarding police morale, Shahadat said the situation has improved over the past two years and the force is now more confident. However, he added that greater public compliance with the law would further strengthen police morale.

-HIS