Bangladesh, Oct. 10 -- Eight months after taking office in February, the ruling BNP government is struggling to rein in a wave of extortion, land grabbing and violent attacks sweeping across the country.
Despite repeated declarations of "zero tolerance," ordinary citizens say they face demands for money almost daily, and in many cases are assaulted when they refuse.
On 29 September 2026, 38 eminent citizens issued a joint statement expressing deep concern and anger over what they described as a sharp rise in land grabbing, attacks and extortion carried out under political patronage and the influence of muscle power.
They said such incidents had increased noticeably in recent days, pointing to a clear deterioration in law and order.
The ...