Security analysts say Bangladesh has safer and more effective options than authorizing police to open fire on arsonists and crude bomb attackers, a directive issued ahead of Monday’s verdict against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police says the instruction is meant to deter sabotage linked to political unrest, but experts warn that lethal force as a frontline tactic risks civilian casualties, misjudgment, and rapid escalation.
Specialists in urban security argue that Bangladesh should prioritize investments in technology and intelligence to manage unrest without lowering the threshold for gunfire. They point to gaps in real-time surveillance, limited forensic capacity, slow information flow between agencies, and insufficient monitoring of high-risk actors who have historically used crude bombs in Dhaka.
Analysts recommend expanding the citywide CCTV network with automated number-plate recognition, deploying drones for crowd assessment, and using sensors that detect and trace explosive materials. They also call for stronger intelligence coordination between police, the Rapid Action Battalion, and transport authorities to identify groups planning arson attacks on buses and trains.
Former senior officers say Bangladesh could reduce violence by reinforcing community policing, building early-warning systems in transit hubs, and training specialized units in nonlethal crowd control. They note that modern tools such as long-range acoustic devices, flash-bang dispersal, GPS tracking of fleeing suspects, and mobile command centers allow authorities to intervene without immediately resorting to live ammunition.
Rights advocates add that nonlethal options, such as tear gas, water cannons, drones equipped with thermal imaging, and rapid deployment of bomb-disposal teams, can contain threats more safely. They warn that relying on gunfire as the primary response increases the risk of political misuse during volatile moments and complicates Bangladesh’s efforts to rebuild public trust after years of criticism over excessive force.
Security experts say that while arson and crude bomb attacks must be stopped, long-term stability depends on better intelligence, better technology, and better training — not broader authority to shoot.