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Published : 11 Apr 2026, 11:03 AM
In Sylhet, even daylight no longer guarantees safety.
A relentless spate of thefts and muggings has turned daily life into a gamble for Sylhet’s residents, with criminals emboldened enough to strike in busy streets and quiet lanes alike and escape with ease.
Money, mobile phones and bags are being snatched openly, with victims held hostage under threat of weapons.
Beyond financial loss, the risk of serious injury -- or worse -- has deepened anxiety among city dwellers.
Police say 47 cases of theft and mugging were filed across the city in February and March.
Residents, however, claim the real number exceeds 100 incidents, alleging many victims avoid filing complaints to “escape hassle”.
The situation has been exacerbated by the spread of CCTV footage of several incidents on social media, sparking widespread criticism and intensifying public fear.
Movement through dimly lit alleys and deserted streets has become particularly distressing.
Despite multiple meetings between city police officials and top authorities -- including Commerce Advisor Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Expatriates’ Welfare Advisor Ariful Haque Choudhury, and Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qaiyum Chowdhury -- the spree of thefts and muggings has yet to be contained.
Emon Ahmed, a resident of Bagbari, said: “After several mugging incidents went viral, even stepping out with children in broad daylight brings a sense of fear -- anything could happen at any moment.”
Syeda Shirin Akter, president of SHUJAN Sylhet and head of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association’s Sylhet unit, said: “At present, even getting into a CNG autorickshaw alone feels unsafe.”
She stressed the need for increased police surveillance and checkpoints across the city, alongside swift arrests of listed offenders.
She also urged citizens to remain vigilant.
Former Sylhet Bar Association president Advocate Emad Ullah Shahidul Islam said: “Since the formation of the new government, a string of daylight muggings in Sylhet has become a major source of fear for us.
“BNP leaders had pledged during their campaign that law and order would be their top priority. But the current deterioration is threatening everyday life.”
He added: “The two incidents that went viral on social media -- the snatching from a woman in the Housing Estate area and another at Sagardighirpar, followed by the journalist’s case -- reflect nothing but a serious decline in law and order.”
Notable Incidents
Apr 4, around 2:45pm: Wahid Alam Reza, a Bengali literature lecturer at Balaganj Government Degree College, was attacked at Ambarkhana while travelling in an autorickshaw.
Muggers held a knife to the throat of his 3-and-a-half-year-old son and stole Tk 20,000 to Tk 22,000.
Reza said, “I was taking my son to a doctor. I boarded an autorickshaw at Ambarkhana for Shahi Eidgah. Another person was already with the driver.
“Within a minute, another passenger got in. After some distance, one of them suddenly held a knife to my child’s throat and told me not to speak. I was stunned and held my son tightly.”
He added: “They took the money from my pocket, then stopped briefly ahead, forced us out, and sped away.”
He alleged that many autorickshaw drivers are linked to such gangs.
March, Sagardighirpar: A viral video showed two men on a motorcycle attempting to rob a female student on a quiet road.
One brandished a sharp weapon to threaten her, while the other tried to snatch her bag.
When she resisted, the attacker struck her several times with the blunt side of the weapon.
The assailants fled upon sensing nearby people. No items were taken, and the motorcycle number plate was unclear.
February, Housing Estate area: Six muggers on three motorcycles intercepted an autorickshaw and snatched a woman’s bag containing Tk 15,000, cheque books and important documents.
In the 37-second video, one youth is seen pulling the bag from inside the vehicle before fleeing.
Police said the victim filed a general diary at Airport Police Station, and one suspect has been arrested.
Crackdown and Police Response
According to Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), in February alone, six police stations recorded four muggings and 16 theft cases.
In March, there were seven muggings and 19 theft cases.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mohammad Monjurul Alam said: “We are working to make the city free from theft and mugging. Senior officials, including the police commissioner, are working day and night. Duty has been increased at every station and outpost.
“Checkpoints have been set up across the city, and identified muggers are being arrested through regular drives.”
At a press conference on Apr 6, Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury said a list of 263 identified muggers had been prepared, with 44 already arrested.
“Specialised teams have been formed solely to apprehend muggers. We hope to curb their activities within the next one to two months,” he said.
He added that from October to December, 19 people were arrested for robbery, 48 for mugging and 95 for theft.
Between January and March this year, arrests rose to 20 for robbery, 103 for mugging and 104 for theft.
“According to statistics, arrests of thieves and muggers have more than doubled, reflecting our zero-tolerance stance,” he said.
Also, 2,667 individuals were arrested on different warrants between October and December, rising to 3,043 from January to March -- averaging about a thousand arrests per month.
During Ramadan alone, 1,129 suspects were detained.
Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Qaiyum sought to reassure residents, saying: “There is no reason for panic. Law enforcement has been instructed to intensify operations, alongside increased intelligence surveillance. We are maintaining zero tolerance against theft and mugging.”
