Minor crimes 'on the rise' but will be contained soon: Asif Mahmud

Instead of panicking, he urges citizens to rely on statistics to get a true gauge on the law and order situation

Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has stressed that while serious crimes like murder and robbery have declined since the early months of the interim government's tenure, lesser offences, particularly mugging, have been on the rise, fuelling concerns over law and order in Bangladesh.

In a veiled warning to the Awami League, the youth and sports advisor warned that any attempt to "destabilise" the country would be met with "stringent measures".

“Recently, public concerns over law and order have grown. Since the July mass uprising, the morale of our law-enforcing agencies hasn't yet been fully restored. This is a long-term process, and we are working on it through new recruitment, training, and other measures. We hope to see positive results soon,” he said during a late-night visit to police security checkpoints in Dhaka on Tuesday.

“Just two days ago, we held a core committee meeting with all key officials in Dhaka, including the army and police. Several important decisions were made, such as increasing patrols and deploying forces in alleys to bolster security.”

Opining on the security measures that have been put in place by the government, he said, “Over the past hour, I’ve visited multiple intersections across Dhaka. Police patrol cars are stationed at every major point, with a visible presence of law enforcement personnel. I believe we will soon overcome the fear that has developed among the public.”

He expressed optimism about stabilising the situation by increasing patrols in crime-prone areas and swiftly arresting offenders. “Serious crimes like murder and robbery, which were a major concern in the August-September period, have significantly reduced. However, incidents of mugging have slightly increased in recent times."

“The government and law-enforcing agencies are addressing the issue and we expect to see positive results soon. These crimes should start decreasing rapidly.”

Highlighting the reality of crime in any society, he said, “Crime will always exist, but the key is to keep it under control so that it does not create fear or panic among the public.”

"When an incident goes viral, it often creates unnecessary panic. This makes it seem like crime is more widespread than it actually is. However, it is important to rely on statistics to understand the true situation. Over the past six months, there has been significant progress in crime reduction. As law-enforcing agencies continue to address minor offences, these are also expected to decline."