Dhaka, March 28 -- "No Eid break this time for me - my employer [owner of the house] is heading to his hometown, so I only get time off once he's back. Some days ago police visited our house. Told me to keep the lights on at all times. They also asked us to check if CCTV cameras were working properly. [Police] are saying they won't always be around, so we need to stay on our toes."

Ataur Rahman, a security guard at a house in Dhaka's Adabor, shared his concerns ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, as anxiety over the country's shifting political landscape and deteriorating law and order continues to weigh on him.

As authorities scramble to keep crime in check, nearly 10 million people are preparing to leave Dhaka for the Eid holidays.

In response, th...