A spate of looting and vandalism in recent months has sparked growing outrage and concern as critics question the administration’s ability to maintain law and order.
Taking advantage of protests, and sometimes using religious or political issues as cover, certain groups have carried out attacks on and looted businesses, homes and even moving vehicles.
Experts warn that this ongoing violence raises serious questions about the effectiveness and preparedness of the administration.
The most recent ones occurred on Monday during protests in various cities against Israeli atrocities in Palestine.
Mobs attacked, vandalized and looted international fast food chains such as KFC and Pizza Hut, as well as Bata and even local shops and restaurants.
These incidents were reported in at least 12 cities, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cumilla, Cox’s Bazar and Khulna.
Following the destruction and looting, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam issued a warning saying the police had video footage of the attackers and that identified individuals would face strict legal action.
As of Wednesday morning, 72 people had been arrested in connection with these incidents.
Administration’s role under scrutiny
Law enforcement agencies have been accused of inaction in many areas during these incidents. In some places, even though law enforcement officers were present, they took no visible steps to stop the looters.
Former IGP Muhammed Nurul Huda said criminals, extortionists and politically influenced groups often infiltrated public movements to create chaos.
“Based on intelligence reports, the administration should have kept these areas under special surveillance,” he said, adding that the police must be more active and accountable to prevent such situations in the future.
Meanwhile, crime analyst Dr Md Omar Faruk remarked that the way law and order was deteriorating posed not only a threat to national stability but also to foreign investment and economic progress.
“It is alarming that criminal activities are being carried out under the guise of protests, and the administration’s failure to stop this is a matter of serious concern,” he added.
“Even though police, RAB and other specialized forces are deployed, coordination failures and political influence often worsen the situation. The police must understand the public perspective and work with empathy. If law enforcement agencies do not take strong legal and social measures now, the situation could deteriorate further.”
Concerns about international impact
The same day the looting occurred, Dhaka was hosting the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, an international business conference.
Several high-level government officials expressed concern that such unrest could send a negative message to foreign investors.
Notably, Bata issued a statement later that day, saying that several of its outlets had been vandalized and looted, which the company said was not just damaging to its business but also harmful to the country’s image. “We are working to assess the extent of the damage.”
Wave of looting
Looting and vandalism erupted nationwide following the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5.
Since then, attacks, vandalism and looting have become almost regular occurrences.
Businesses in Dhaka and other cities have frequently been targeted under the pretext of protests, strikes or political unrest.
Experts say that an organized group is exploiting the situation to engage in widespread looting.
Investigations are needed to determine whether political backing or administrative weaknesses are enabling this, they say, adding that it is also critical to identify who is behind these incidents and what their agenda might be.
Meanwhile, security analysts stress that any movement that harms business owners, shopkeepers or ordinary citizens is unacceptable, calling on the government and the administration to deliver a strong message now and curb all criminal activities before this culture of violence spirals further out of control.
Political reactions and administrative response
Speaking at an event on Tuesday, BNP National Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed criticized the government and law enforcement for failure to prevent these incidents.
Had steps been taken earlier, the country's reputation would not have been damaged like this, he said.
On the other hand, the police claimed that those involved in the looting and vandalism belonged to a political faction and opportunistic group, adding that law enforcement was on high alert and would show no leniency towards these criminals.
