The country is witnessing a disturbing rise in mob violence, with incidents of beatings, lynchings, police station attacks, looting, public humiliation, and social media shaming spreading fear across the country.
In one of the latest incidents, a woman and her two children were brutally beaten and hacked to death in Cumilla’s Muradnagar on Thursday. In Chattogram’s Patiya, a mob attacked a police station on July 1. In Dhaka’s Mohakhali, Jubo Dal leader Monir Hossain and his associates vandalized a restaurant and bar. In Patgram, Lalmonirhat, a mob stormed a police station and freed two convicted criminals.
The violence is no longer limited to criminals—politicians, law enforcers, teachers, lawyers, and ordinary citizens are falling victim. Experts say political rivalries, and a lack of law enforcement controls are fueling these unchecked mob attacks.
Government advisers have been warning about controlling mob violence for several months. Although initiatives have been seen from time to time, this is not being controlled in any way.
In this situation, the human rights situation in the country has also come under question. In such cases of public organized beatings and killings, the question of who is responsible for the deaths has come to the fore. Human rights activists, crime experts, and lawyers are advising law enforcement agencies to be stricter to stop these incidents.
After the attack on former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AKM Nurul Huda, Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, “Mob justice is not acceptable in any way. What happened to AKM Nurul Huda is not acceptable in any way.”
“He was attacked in front of the law enforcement agencies. An investigation committee will be formed for this. An investigation will be conducted to see who is involved in this. If any law enforcement agency member is involved, action will be taken against him. If there is a criminal, he will be handed over to the law enforcement agencies. The forces will take necessary action. Under no circumstances can the law be taken into their own hands,” Home Adviser added.
According to relevant sources including research organizations, according to information from human rights organizations, 253 mob violence occurred in 10 months from September 2024 to last June. In this, 163 people were killed and 312 were injured.
Manobadhikar Sangskritik Foundation (MSF) reported that at least 41 mass beatings in the country last June, 10 people were killed. 47 were seriously injured. 30 victims of mass beatings were handed over to the police in their injured state. They were beaten on charges of robbery, theft, murder, rape and attempted rape, kidnapping, extortion, insults, fraud and kidnapping.
MSF believes that it is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to identify the criminals involved in creating a dangerous environment by creating mob violence in disregard of the law and creating insecurity in the society.
The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reported 78 mob-related deaths in the first five months of this year, while the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) counted 202 incidents in nine months, with 131 fatalities.
According to the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), there were 202 mob violence incidents in the 9 months from September 2024 to May 2024. 131 people were killed in these incidents. 165 people were injured during this time.
An analysis of the mob violence incidents shows that attacks on ordinary people and mass beatings are occurring more frequently. In most cases, attacks are being carried out by forming mobs. In some cases, professional criminals and political party leaders and activists are also forming mobs.
Crime experts said that there is almost no precedent for punishment in cases of murder through mob violence. As a result, another criminal group is exploiting people's anger against criminals; they are trapping them in mass beatings and committing incidents like beatings and murders.
Dr Touhidul Haque, associate professor at Dhaka University's Institute of Social Welfare and Research and a crime analyst, said, “Mobs are like contagious diseases. If they cannot be stopped, they gradually spread. In any situation, incidents of conflict and violence arise and in these incidents, those who are numerically stronger prey on the weak.”
“The mobs that are happening now are completely motivated. There may be allegations and evidence against someone. It will be resolved through the legal process. Now if people themselves lift the law, then there will be no moral gap between the two parties,” he added.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
