Over 1,500 crimes including 265 murders and 500 robberies were recorded in the district during the period.

The abduction of business magnate Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury, killing of millionaire businessman Rezaur Rahman Zakir after kidnap, murder of college student Rafeza Khanam Poppy, suicide of college girl Umme Habiba Rumi following teasing, murder of computer engineer Srikanta Rakshit, horrifying death of 11 people of a family at Shilpara in Banskhali were some of the incidents that shook the nation.

Besides, an accused --Amar Das--died in custody allegedly due to torture.

Chittagong hit newspaper headlines on several occasions and was talked about nationally because of these harrowing incidents, especially the Banshkhali carnage of November 18 midnight.

In-between these, the tragic road accident at Fateyabad under Hathazari upazila on the night of January 30 in which 11 youths including nine cricketers died tore apart many hearts in Chittagong and elsewhere in the country.

The killing of college students Rumi and Poppy also sent shockwaves across the nation.

Abduction for ransom virtually turned into a spree in the bygone year, creating a sense of insecurity among the people and destroying their confidence on law enforcers.

A reshuffle in police administration against the backdrop of the situation did a little to restore people's confidence on law enforcers.

Businessman and BNP leader Jamal, abducted on July 24, is yet to be rescued.

Abduction and murder of business magnate Rezaur Rahman Zakir in the following month (August 11) came as another slap for the police administration here.

Than came the custodial death of Amar Das, a suspected abductor of businessman Jamal on December 10, only to further defame police.

Besides the Banshkhali carnage, seven persons including six of a family were roasted alive on March 10 in a devastating fire at city's Burma Colony under Baizid Bostami police station.

Another three of a family met with a similar tragedy at Nathpara of Chambal union in Banshkhali on May 9. Another fire on August 8 took lives of two of a family at Batua village in Patiya Upazila.

Lynching of alleged muggers or dacoits by mobs took a frenzied turn in the year. Fifteen alleged muggers or dacoits were lynched in separate incidents at Patiya, Satkania and other areas in the district.

Murder of two Awami League activists eaders inside a madrassah on the night of Eid-ul Fitr (February 12) at Burishchar under Hathazari Upazila, three brothers at Chariya of Mirzapur under the same upazila on May 26 and of Sramik Dal leader Shafiuddin Ahmed, a railway employee, at Ambagan in the city on June 14 are mentionable among the political killings.

Two court verdicts came as a relief to the people of Chittagong.

However, a few court verdicts in some sensational murder cases have created an impression among the people that that criminals can not escape the hands of law always. Four cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibit were given death sentences on February 6 in Principal Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case. Another five are to die killing Laxmipur BNP leader advocate Nurul Islam.