Bangladesh registered 934 murder cases nationwide between May and July this year, averaging more than 10 cases a day, according to Police Headquarters data. Concern has intensified following the killing of four members of a teacher’s family at their home in Rangpur, while murders have also been reported in Dhaka and other parts of the country. From January through July, police recorded 2,076 murder cases.

Political and mob violence have added to concerns over public security. Ain o Salish Kendra said 134 people were killed in mob violence and at least 77 in political violence during the first seven months of the year. It recorded 400 political violence incidents, leaving 2,974 people injured. Analysts cited struggles for power, political conflict, drugs, family disputes and the spread of illegal weapons as factors behind violence.

Police said robberies, dacoities and thefts have declined, but murders have not fallen significantly, and operations to arrest suspects continue. Police recorded 1,789 murder cases from February to July, nine more than in the preceding six months. Rights advocate Elina Khan called on the government and law-enforcement agencies to restore security, while police said they were working independently without government pressure.