Just as a single drop of lime is enough to spoil an entire glass of milk, or a mischievous monkey can wreck a beautifully arranged garden, a single misstep can destroy a great accomplishment. Recently, the gains of the July Revolution seem to be challenged by the turmoil of 'mob justice.'
On Tuesday evening (March 4), following a meeting of the advisory council, Environment, Forests and Climate change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said at a regular press conference, "The government has taken a tough stance to stop mob justice. Measures will be taken with utmost priority to stop such acts."
On the same day the advisor held the press conference, after midnight, a group of criminals launched an unexpected attack on a flat in Gulshan, one of the city's most prestigious areas. Identifying themselves as "students-people " and, without any hesitation, broke open the flat’s door, ransacked the apartment, and looted it. The looting continued for over an hour. When they were done, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. They met with the perpetrators and allowed them to leave unscathed.
As they left, the attackers shouted that they had heard there was illicit wealth hidden in the flat of Tanveer Imam, the son of HT Imam, that’s why they had come. If someone hears that a criminal is hiding illegal assets in a flat or house, what should they do? They should inform the law enforcement agencies, who will take the necessary legal action. However, the terrifying tendency to take the law into one’s own hands, what we now call ‘mob justice,’ was once again witnessed in its horrifying form in Gulshan.
Following intense public criticism, only three members of the so-called "students-people" gang were arrested, even though the incident took place right under the police’s nose. Whether they actually looted or not is irrelevant. The fact is that they illegally entered a house and broke the lock, which is a criminal offense under Bangladesh's penal code. This isn’t an isolated case; such incidents are happening frequently across different areas. While we hear about the ones in Dhaka, most incidents in other districts remain out of the public eye.
According to the Law and Arbitration Center, 96 deaths occurred due to mob lynching between August and December last year. In the last seven months, there have been 233 instances of mob justice that have created chaos. No place seems to be free from mob justice. From court premises to homes, even women are becoming victims of mob justice for unwanted reasons. If the government fails to curb this, the achievements of the public uprising will be called into question, and we will not be able to reap the rewards of our revolution.
After the fall of the fascist Awami League on August 5, the youth of the country had envisioned the building of a new Bangladesh, where no one would have the power to oppress others, where no one could dominate or suppress anyone. This was the dream that sparked the July Revolution—a dream of a Bangladesh free from oppression and subjugation.
Yet, after the July Revolution, we are witnessing the rise of numerous incidents of mob justice. Rape, murder, and looting have almost become routine matters.
In the last seven months, organized criminal groups have emerged in different areas, carrying out crimes under the guise of "students and the people." These criminals are worsening the law and order situation and, more dangerously, tarnishing the image of the heroes of the July Revolution. They are spreading false notions about them in society. This is an extremely dangerous trend.
Just as a few criminals barged into a flat in Gulshan, similar mobs are now forming in various areas, taking the law into their own hands and attacking innocent people. Even law enforcement officers are not spared from attacks by these mobs. A lawless, anarchic system is being created.
If you can gather 20-25 people, you can beat up your "targeted enemy" on the streets without any obstruction. No one will stop you, and perhaps a curious crowd will join in. Together, they will carry out this festival of brutality. Even when law enforcement arrives, they will just stand there, trying to understand what is happening and why. By the time they figure it out, the damage will already be done.
On March 4, a mob formed in Jaggannathpur area of Vatarah, Dhaka attacked and beat up three people, including two Iranian nationals. The incident occurred around noon on Tuesday. Later, the police rescued the two injured Iranians and sent them to the hospital. The police stated that the injured Iranians were Mohammad Ahmad (74) and his grandson, Mohammad Mehdi (18), who had come to Bangladesh for a visit. The identity of the third injured person remains unknown.
The question now is, if foreign nationals become victims of such attacks, where does our security stand? After August 5, some opportunists took advantage of the situation. They realized that the law and order situation was no longer under anyone's control, the police force was ineffective, and no one was stopping them from taking the law into their own hands.
In such a situation, they initially indiscriminately plundered some identified houses and properties. The individuals who looted various houses on August 5 were not involved in the July movement. Their actions are completely inconsistent with the spirit of the movement. They were truly criminals and wrongdoers.
As the law and order situation began to be managed gradually, with the police starting their work and the military being given magistracy powers, these criminals began to adopt different tactics.
Since the students, after the revolution, have emerged as a distinct power with a new level of popularity and status, the criminals began to use the identity of "students-people." They started attacking various houses and properties, attempting to create instability in society through terrorism and extortion.
Imagine you have a dispute with someone. You hire a thug, and this thug gathers a group of people, presenting themselves as part of the "students and people" or even as anti-discrimination student leaders. Who will verify their true identity? Using this tactic, they attack a house, office, shop, or any other establishment, causing destruction. Such actions damage the reputation of the anti-discrimination student movement and the student leaders of the uprising. If this isn't stopped quickly, it will create a negative image of students in the public's mind.
We firmly believe that the pioneers and those involved in the July Revolution can never be associated with such criminality, extortion, or terrorism. They are the freedom fighters of the new Bangladesh. After the great liberation war of 1971, there were also various conspiracies to tarnish the character of the freedom fighters. Criminals used the identity of "freedom fighters" to commit looting, robbery, and highway robbery. The nation had to pay a heavy price for this. The conspirators succeeded in discrediting the true freedom fighters at that time. Now, there is a plot underway to tarnish the leaders of the July Revolution as well.
It must be remembered that the students who led the July Revolution are the dreamers of the new Bangladesh. Therefore, those who are using them for such acts are actually accomplices of fascism, they are partners of dictatorship. They wish to restore dictatorship in Bangladesh, which is why they are engaging in such vile and unacceptable tactics. The government must take a responsible and strict stance on this matter. Law enforcement agencies must remain neutral and firm.
One thing to remember is that criminals do not have a party identity. Those who have attacked are attackers, whether they are students or non-students, people or criminals. It is not the job of law enforcement to decide that. The criminals must be brought under the law impartially.
The patience of the people is breaking. If mob justice is not stopped, the achievements of this revolution will be compromised. Mob justice has turned into a threat to the revolution, creating a counter-revolutionary atmosphere in Bangladesh. To stop mob justice, action is needed, not just words.
* The writer is a playwright and columnist. She can be reached at [email protected]
