Human rights organizations and activists have documented alarming figures related to mob violence, extortion, land grabbing, robbery and mugging, alongside the torture of journalists, violence against women and children, deaths of workers, and deaths in custody.
According to data from the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 171 people have died in mob beatings across the country in the nine months from January to September of the current year. Among the divisions, Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of deaths at 63, Chattogram saw 39 deaths, and Khulna 22.
Separately, the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) stated in its three-month human rights monitoring report from July to September that during this period, at least 137 incidents of mob violence and public beatings resulted in 54 deaths and 145 injuries. In the same period, 183 incidents of political violence left 17 people dead and more than 1,227 injured.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus took charge with the support of the army and the backing of the BNP and Jamaat. In the first five months of its tenure, 96 people were killed as victims of mob violence.
According to ASK data, 197 people were killed in mob terrorism in 2025 (including 27 in Dhaka, 17 in Gazipur, and 11 in Narayanganj). In contrast, the Human Rights Culture Foundation counted 166 deaths from mob violence in 2025.
An audio recording spreads on social media. Then comes a call on Facebook Live to gather people. Before any verification of the allegations or an opportunity for the accused to defend himself, the mob beating begins. In the end, Wahiduzzaman Shamim loses his life. This is how the incident of him being beaten to death in Debhata, Satkhira, on allegations of religious blasphemy came to light. On the other hand, in Dhamrai, Dhaka, there are allegations that a Chhatra Dal leader was intercepted by people arriving on multiple motorcycles, abducted, and beaten.
Incidents of organized attacks and mob beatings are occurring in various parts of the country centered on allegations of theft, mugging, religious blasphemy, political disputes, and personal enmity. In some places it is based on suspicion, in others rumors are spread, and in yet others there are allegations of deliberately gathering people to target specific individuals. In many cases, the identities of the attackers are not unknown. Yet these acts of violence are not being stopped. As a result, the question has arisen whether the label of “mob” or “excited crowd” is creating an opportunity for criminals to evade responsibility.
The government and law enforcement agencies say they have taken a firm stance against mob violence. However, the statistics of human rights organizations present a concerning picture of the situation. Law enforcement officials also say that when a large number of people simultaneously take the law into their own hands, controlling the situation becomes difficult. Police technological capacity to counter the tendency of mobilizing people through social media has not yet been fully developed.
Moreover, after the change of power in 2024, the mass granting of impunity to those responsible for the killings of police personnel and Awami League leaders and activists is considered a major reason behind the rise in mob terrorism. Because proper legal action was not taken in these cases, and because Yunus himself is accused of inciting mob terrorism against Awami League leaders, workers, and supporters, he is often called the “father of the mob.”
In this situation, the question arises: Is mob violence merely the result of social intolerance and a tendency to disregard the law, or is it also being used as a tactic of organized crime? After labeling an incident a “mob,” how seriously is the role of the actual planners and instigators being investigated?
A recent example of mob violence is the killing of Wahiduzzaman Shamim in Debhata, Satkhira. Last Tuesday (October 13), he was beaten to death on allegations of religious blasphemy.
According to the victim’s family, an audio recording of Shamim’s conversation during a family dispute with his wife the previous day spread on social media. The family claims that Shamim was suffering from mental health problems and was under treatment. Local Fazlul Haque, claiming that the circulated audio contained religious insults, went live on Facebook and called on “Touhidi Jonota” (monotheistic people) to gather. After that, an excited crowd attacked Shamim.
The family alleges that after being beaten, Shamim, in a sick state, consumed poison and was taken to a local village doctor’s chamber. There, while under treatment, he was attacked again. Later, when police rescued him and admitted him to hospital, a group of people allegedly attacked there as well. Shamim was taken out of the hospital while under treatment and beaten. In critical condition, he was taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
In connection with this incident, on Thursday night (October 15), the victim’s elder brother filed a murder case at Debhata Police Station as the complainant. Fazlul Haque has been named as the principal accused, with 10 people named in total. Another 200 to 250 people have been made unnamed accused. Police have already arrested two people.
After the Satkhira incident, on Friday (October 16) in Dhamrai, Dhaka, allegations arose that a Chhatra Dal leader named Mahfuzur Rahman Imon (28) was publicly abducted and beaten.
According to eyewitnesses and concerned persons, in the morning, while he was going about personal work in a hired private car, 20 to 25 people arriving on 8 to 10 motorcycles blocked his car near Balia bus stand area. He was later taken elsewhere and beaten, according to the allegation. The injured Imon received treatment at the Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex.
Imon alleges that former chairman of Chouhat Union Rafiqul Islam Mokshed and his followers were involved in the attack. However, Mokshed’s wife and current UP chairman Parveen Hasan Priti has denied the beating allegation. She claims that local people chased Imon over an incident of drug carrying and an attempt to run over someone with a car. Police also claim to have recovered cannabis from the car. However, Imon has denied this allegation.
The actual cause of the incident and the role of those involved in the attack are matters for investigation. Nevertheless, the allegation of arriving on multiple motorcycles, blocking the road, abducting someone, and carrying out a coordinated attack has brought the fear of planned violence to the forefront.
Why Impunity?
According to the country’s law, even if someone is a criminal, there is no scope to beat or kill them. Those who take the law into their own hands are also criminals. But it is seen that in many cases of beating people to death, police activity in catching those involved is low. Although the government has verbally taken a tough stance, it is unable to prevent it on the ground.
Former Law Adviser Asif Nazrul told journalists in August last year that the interim government’s two major failures are mob terrorism and blanket cases. The problem in suppressing mob terrorism is that the police had no moral standing. The same police that had been opponents of the July mass uprising, when they saw certain quarters claiming to represent the mass uprising carrying out mob actions, could not suppress it.
Current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said on June 25, 2025, that mob justice is a vicious frenzy that has become an enemy of humanity.
Two days later, Yunus’ Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government is taking a strict stance against mob terrorism. Mobs have decreased a lot compared to before. Gradually, this will not remain.
Then, on July 5, the then Attorney General and current Law Minister Advocate Md. Asaduzzaman said that mob terrorism is not acceptable in any way. It is contrary to the core spirit of the July movement.
On the first working day after taking charge on February 18, 2026, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad announced at the Secretariat that “the days of mob culture in Bangladesh are over” and that it will no longer be encouraged.
Later, on May 10, 2026, at the Rajarbagh Police Auditorium, he stated that dealing with the “mob” fully with existing laws is becoming difficult, so the need for amending the law or enacting a new law may arise. However, at various times before and after, he has also commented that there is scope to take action against these incidents through existing general laws.
Now, coming into October, it is seen that under the BNP era, in addition to their own party leaders and activists, Jamaat-Shibir favored by Yunus and leaders and workers of the NCP are carrying out mob terrorism, extortion, and land grabbing in various places under the name of July fighters. The army or police are not seen playing an effective role in preventing these crimes.
No scope to downplay the severity: Additional IGP
Additional Inspector General of Police (Crime and Operations) at Police Headquarters, Syedur Rahman, said that just because a crime is committed in an organized manner, there is no scope to treat it merely as ordinary mob violence. If someone is killed or seriously injured in a planned manner, action will be taken against the persons concerned after investigation according to the nature of the crime.
He said that if any person or group plans and kills someone, it will not be treated as a mob incident to reduce the gravity of the crime. Rather, the police will investigate it as a murder or related serious crime and try to bring every person involved under the law.
Regarding the Dhamrai incident, he said that if there is personal enmity or a planned attack, it must be uncovered through investigation. There are instructions not to spare anyone even if they are connected to the government or the ruling party if they commit wrongdoing.
Explaining the challenges of preventing mob violence, Additional IGP Syedur Rahman said that if a limited number of people in society break the law, the situation can be handled with conventional police capacity. But when a large number of people want to violate the law simultaneously, the situation becomes much more complicated.
Giving an example, he said that if even just one percent of the huge population of Dhaka city gathers for vandalism or illegal activities at any establishment, it becomes extremely difficult to immediately enforce the law against so many people.
He further said that ordinary people have no right to take the law into their own hands. Ensuring the safety of the lives and property of the public is the primary duty of the police. Law enforcement agencies are taking preventive and post-incident measures within their capacity. These include reaching the scene quickly, controlling violence, arranging treatment for the injured, and trying to identify the criminals.
The allegation of gathering people through Facebook Live in Satkhira has also raised questions about the police’s capacity to identify and prevent incitement on social media. On this matter, Additional IGP Syedur Rahman acknowledged that the police’s capacity to prevent cybercrime has not yet reached the desired level. Time is needed for necessary manpower recruitment, legal framework, training, and acquisition of technological skills.
Additional IGP Syedur Rahman also considers the issue of social unrest and declining public tolerance important behind mob violence. According to him, people are now becoming agitated over minor matters in many cases and losing patience. It is necessary to research whether people’s trust in the state’s law and judicial process is changing. However, it would not be correct to blame any single cause alone.
He also said that the police are raising awareness among people through community policing about not taking the law into their own hands.
Associate Professor of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at Dhaka University and crime analyst Dr. Touhidul Haque said that mob violence is not acceptable in any way. Every incident must be properly investigated and strict action taken against those involved. Otherwise, this type of violence will increase further.
Executive Director of the human rights organization HRSS, Ijajul Islam, said that in a democratic state, the life and security of citizens are fundamental rights. Incidents like mob violence pose a serious threat to the human rights situation and social harmony. Strict legal measures by the government are needed to prevent such crimes.
According to experts and activists, merely sending police to the scene or filing cases after an attack is not enough to stop mob violence. The origin of the allegation, the process of gathering people, the role of instigators, leadership in the attack, and the possible planning of organized crime—all must be brought under investigation. At the same time, it is also essential to ensure people’s trust in the judicial process, application of the law regardless of political identity, and swift preventive measures.