TDS Desk:

The interim government has said 2,616 murder cases were filed in the first eight months (January to August) of 2025, attributing an apparent increase in the filing of such cases to previously suppressed cases now being filed.

In a dataset and a statement shared on the Facebook page Chief Adviser GOB on Tuesday (September9), the government provided a comparative overall picture based on crime data from 2020 to August 2025.

It explained the apparent rise in murders and certain crimes since August 2024, saying it reflects not only increased violence but also the surfacing of long-suppressed cases finally being filed.

Among the cases recorded in the last 13 months are murders that occurred as far back as 2009-2013, it added.

Although the murder rate in the last 13 months of the interim government seems higher, this is partly because cases were filed between 6 August 2024 — after the mass uprising — and this August over at least 1,130 murders committed during Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule, reads the statement.

Saying that many murder cases could not be filed earlier due to threats from the then-ruling party criminals, with the police also discouraged from registering them, the government mentioned that these incidents came to light after the change of government and the cases were officially recorded.

According to an analysis of the dataset, 2024 saw an average of 287 murder cases filed per month, compared to 327 till August this year.

OTHER CRIMES

It went on to say that compared to previous years, various types of crimes appear to have risen in 2025, “but this is partly because people can now more easily file cases against politically influential criminals.”

The government added that under the Awami League regime, ruling party men often prevented victims from filing cases, especially if the perpetrators were party members.

“During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, crime statistics were underreported, as the police were reluctant to register cases against ruling party leaders and activists,” read the statement.

On robbery, it said incidents decreased from 1,405 (2024) to 1,314 (eight months of 2025), though still higher than in the first half of 2023. “The reason is that now all robbery cases are being recorded at police stations without interference from influential figures.”

As many as 117 robbery cases were filed every month on average last year, against 164 per month this year.

The statement continued, “Offences under the Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) Act, 2002 fell from 1,226 (2024) to 651 (eight months of 2025); riot incidents dropped from 125 to 59; and theft cases saw a significant decrease: 8,652 to 6,354.”

Although the government claims that the filing of theft cases has gone down, an analysis of the dataset shows that 793 cases were filed every month on average in the first eight months of his year, compared to 721 last year, which indicates an increase.

The statement said the data indicates that while reported violent crimes, such as murder, have increased, “ordinary crimes” are showing a downward trend, suggesting both better law enforcement and a more transparent case registration process.