Mob violence continues to surge across the country, with at least 13 incidents reported in just the first 10 days of August, resulting in nine deaths and 13 injuries, according to newspaper reports.
Data from the Manabadhikar Sangskriti Foundation (MSF) shows that from January to July this year, 78 people were killed in mob beatings. With August’s incidents included, the death toll has now reached 87.
In the same period, 266 people have been injured in such attacks.
The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reports that from January to August 10, at least 111 people have died due to mob violence.
The latest case occurred on August 9 in Rangpur, where two men– Rupalal Das and Pradip Das– were beaten to death on suspicion of theft. On the same day in Madaripur, three men accused of theft were attacked, with one victim nearly losing an eye.
Family members insist the victims in Rangpur were innocent. Rupalal’s elderly mother, Lalicha Das, said her son earned a living repairing shoes and had gone to bring home his niece’s husband ahead of her wedding.
“They killed my son for nothing,” she said. “I want justice.”
Experts say the problem has worsened since July’s mass uprising, which weakened police activity and coincided with a rise in theft, robbery, and other crimes.
Sajjad Siddiqui, acting chairman of Peace and Conflict Studies of the Dhaka University, notes that impunity has encouraged more violence, with both spontaneous and organised mobs emerging, the latter often driven by political motives.
An analysis of the August incidents shows that in 8 of the 13 cases, victims were attacked on suspicion of theft; the rest were linked to extortion, personal disputes, or longstanding rivalries.
Public concern is high.
A BRAC Institute of Governance and Development survey published on Monday found that 80% of respondents are worried about mob violence, along with concerns about women’s safety (56%), night-time security (61%), and street harassment (67%).
The government has acknowledged the challenge.
On August 1, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the police lacked the moral will to curb mob violence, especially when perpetrators appeared to be aligned with the forces behind the July uprising.
Human rights activists, however, say the government’s actions remain ineffective.
Forced Disappearance Investigation Commission member and activist Nur Khan Liton argues that political criminalisation and fear of mobs have weakened law enforcement and even the courts.
“People have lost faith in the authorities,” he said. “The government must take strong, visible action to break this cycle.”
