In riverine Bangladesh, rivers are not merely a source of natural beauty; they are also one of the principal pillars of the country’s economy, transportation system, and livelihoods.
Unfortunately, these very waterways have now become a major source of fear. As evening falls, concerns about the safety of passengers, fishermen, and boat workers continue to grow. Robberies occur in some places, extortion in others, while abductions and murders take place elsewhere.
Moreover, cargo vessels are routinely targeted for the theft of goods. Even members of the River Police have come under attack while attempting to curb such crimes.
The gravity of the situation is evident from the River Police’s own statistics. In 2024, a total of 2,085 cases were filed involving murder, robbery, snatching, extortion, drugs, and other crimes on the waterways.
In 2025, that figure rose to approximately 3,500—an increase of nearly 1,500 cases in just one year. From January to September of the current year, a further 505 cases were filed involving murder, robbery, abduction, piracy, and unnatural deaths.
If waterways, which are integral to people’s lives and livelihoods, become unsafe in this manner, how can a river-based economy possibly flourish?
One of the principal reasons behind the spread of crime on the waterways is undoubtedly the limitations of surveillance. According to River Police data, the length of the country’s navigable waterways extends to approximately 7,500 kilometres during the monsoon season, shrinking to around 4,500 kilometres in the dry season.
Ensuring round-the-clock security across such an extensive network of waterways is naturally difficult without adequate personnel, patrol vessels, and necessary equipment.
Nevertheless, criminals must not be allowed to exploit these limitations. Strengthening the River Police in accordance with actual needs is therefore indispensable.
Alongside ensuring the presence of functional and active river police stations and outposts across the country, it is essential to improve modern communication systems, surveillance equipment, training, and the capacity to respond swiftly to incidents.
The experience of developed countries can serve as a model in this regard. For instance, the United States Coast Guard works to combat various crimes, including drug trafficking and the transportation of illegal goods, both at sea and on inland waterways.
Through its America’s Waterway Watch programme, people living near waterways and professionals working in related fields are encouraged to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
In other words, responsibility for security is not confined to the police alone; public awareness and participation are also harnessed. We, too, can establish an effective information-sharing system by involving fishermen, vessel operators, workers, dockside traders, and industries located along riverbanks.
In particular, installing CCTV cameras at riverside industrial facilities, river ports, and important landing stations—and ensuring their effective use—has become imperative.
Crime-prone and isolated areas must be identified, and surveillance intensified according to the level of risk. At the same time, complaints of extortion on the waterways must receive special attention during investigations.
One issue deserves particular scrutiny here. There are allegations that victims are often reluctant to file cases or testify because of fear. Why should this be allowed to happen?
If criminals escape justice because of a lack of formal complaints or testimonial evidence, will that not create further opportunities for them to commit new offences? Therefore, victims must be encouraged to seek assistance from the River Police at the earliest opportunity.
At the same time, measures must be taken to ensure the safety of complainants, provide opportunities to submit information confidentially, and facilitate the collection of technology-based evidence.
It is also necessary to examine whether the relevant agencies are conducting coordinated operations to curb illegal sand extraction, drug trafficking, and the trade in smuggled goods.
Above all, restoring security on the waterways requires addressing shortages of personnel and equipment, bringing criminals to justice swiftly, protecting witnesses, and ensuring the active participation of communities living along riverbanks.
In short, rivers must never be allowed to become safe havens for criminals. Everyone must remember that rivers, canals, and wetlands are national assets, and safeguarding these resources is the responsibility of the state.
At the same time, public cooperation is essential to fulfilling that responsibility. Only through the collective efforts of all concerned can travel along the waterways become safe and trouble-free.