Following the fall of the autocratic Awami League government through a student-public uprising, incidents of taking the law into one’s own hands and creating chaos in groups have significantly increased. As a result, the term ‘mob justice’ has become a widely discussed topic on both social and traditional media.
This situation has instilled fear and anxiety among the general public. The English word ‘mob’ refers to an unruly crowd. When such a crowd takes the law into their own hands and commits violence, it is referred to as ‘mob justice’.
According to a human rights organization, at least 143 people have been killed by mobs in the last nine months.
Despite nine months passing under the interim government, the law enforcement agencies have done little beyond announcing their intent to resist mob behavior. Notably, a few days ago, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dhanmondi Police Station was awarded by the DMP Commissioner for his role in preventing a mob incident in Dhanmondi.
Law enforcement agencies have consistently claimed that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in creating mobs.
Victims of Mob Justice
On March 4, in the capital’s Vatara area, two Iranian nationals were beaten by a mob after being wrongly labeled as muggers. They were later rescued and hospitalized by police. Authorities confirmed that the two were not criminals but were involved in an argument over foreign currency exchange rates, which led to the misunderstanding.
On March 1, two young women were harassed near a tea stall in Lalmatia over smoking in public. One man named Rinku was arrested. Police said an objection raised about the smoking led to a tense situation, and nearby people gathered at the scene. Rinku reportedly behaved inappropriately and physically harassed the women.
Among numerous mob incidents in the past nine months, on Monday night, May 19, a group tried to enter a publisher’s home on Road 4 in Dhanmondi, branding him a fascist collaborator. Police arrived, and a video of their confrontation with the mob circulated on social media.
In the video, one young man told the OC, “Why are you speaking like this? You’re the OC, why didn’t you arrest him? I’m telling you—arrest him.” The OC replied, “There’s no case filed against him.” The youth insisted, “I’ll file a case—arrest him now.” The OC explained, “My superiors instructed me not to make arrests without a case.”
Despite his request to avoid conflict, the youths continued pressuring the OC to arrest the publisher, even accusing the OC of taking bribes.
Police said that those involved identified themselves as leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Three individuals were later taken into custody.
Following the detention, many individuals identifying with the group issued ultimatums and appeared at the police station to demand their release.
One of the individuals involved was later identified as Saiful Islam Rabbi, convenor of the Mohammadpur unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
The next day, the group announced on Facebook that Saiful had been relieved of his duties due to moral misconduct. By afternoon, National Citizens Party (NCP) Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud secured the release of Saiful and two others upon signing a bond that they would not engage in such activities again.
DMP’s Warning Against Mob Justice
On May 20, the DMP’s Deputy Commissioner (Media & PR) Muhammad Talebur Rahman issued a press release stating that any future attempt to create chaos or take the law into one’s own hands would not be tolerated.
The press release praised the professionalism and patience shown by Dhanmondi OC Kayshein Marma, who was awarded by the DMP Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali on May 21.
Law Enforcement Perspective
A senior law enforcement officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “There will be no leniency towards mob perpetrators. The police are now operating with renewed strength for public peace and safety. The whole country witnessed the decline in police morale after the uprising—but we are recovering.”
He added that the support from all political parties against mob activities has helped boost police morale.
He emphasized the Dhanmondi incident as an example of successful resistance, saying, “Anyone trying to create chaos under the guise of a mob will be dealt with strictly according to the law.”
However, the officer could not provide the exact number of those killed or injured in mob incidents so far.
What Human Rights Organizations Say
Ijazul Islam, Executive Director of Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), stated that in the past nine months, 143 people were killed and 139 injured in mob attacks. Over the past 10 years, a total of 792 people have died in similar incidents. The highest number of mob lynchings occurred in 2024, with 179 deaths last year alone.
Information Adviser’s Statement
On March 9, during a press briefing at the Ministry of Law, the government’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuz Alam said, “We want to inform the public that from now on, no matter who is involved, what religion, gender, or ethnicity—they will face strict action if found participating in mob justice. The government has decided to take a tough stand against all forms of mob justice.”
Police Headquarters’ Position
On May 21, Inamul Haque Sagar, AIG of Media & Public Relations at the Police Headquarters, said, “There is no room for taking the law into one’s own hands. In any situation, inform the police, and we will take immediate legal action.”
Expert Opinion
Dr. Touhidul Haque, Associate Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at Dhaka University and a social crime expert, commented, “Although nine months have passed since the interim government took over, law and order remain unstable. There has been a disturbing rise in mob violence, personal vendettas, and false cases.”
He noted, “Mob participants and even individual offenders often feel more empowered than the police, as officers sometimes appear to follow their directions—such as filing cases at their insistence.”
LND/BG
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