The foundation of a well-organized and justice-based society is built on the fair and impartial application of the constitution and the law. But when people lose faith in that system, they begin to take the role of judge into their own hands—giving rise to a horrifying social disease known as mob justice.
This tendency not only takes innocent lives but also spreads a message of chaos, immorality, and cruelty throughout society. In recent years, this inhuman practice has grown alarmingly in Bangladesh and across South Asia.
Beating someone to death on suspicion of wrongdoing, provoking crowds with rumors to take the law into their own hands, or exploiting religious and communal sentiments to create unrest—all these have become familiar forms of mob justice.
The roots of this problem lie in the culture of impunity, weak administration, delays in the judicial process, and a lack of public awareness.
Mob justice is not an isolated or spontaneous reaction—it is a deep and lasting sign of moral decay. When people ignore the law and human rights to administer “justice” themselves, a dangerous and dysfunctional social system begins to form.
As a result, ordinary people fear seeking justice, innocent lives are lost to false accusations, and public trust in justice erodes.
In Bangladesh, the judicial process is complex and time-consuming. Often, criminals go unpunished, or justice takes years to be delivered.
This delay convinces people that justice will never be served—and from that frustration grows the mentality of taking the law into one’s own hands.
Lynching is the most brutal form of mob justice. Many victims are targeted based on suspicion, misunderstanding, or deliberate rumors.
People are beaten to death without proof of theft or kidnapping. Such barbarity can never be a mark of a civilized society.
Take, for example, the incident in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area, where two Iranian citizens were beaten by a crowd who suspected them of being robbers.
Later, it was revealed that they were merely arguing over currency exchange rates. Yet, they suffered violence at the hands of an angry mob.
Mob justice is not new to Bangladesh. But following the student-led movement on August 5 that led to the fall of the government, instances of mob violence and group terror have taken on a frightening new intensity.
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, mob justice constitutes a grave violation of human rights.
Article 10 guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.
Article 11 clearly states that anyone accused of a crime must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and must be given the opportunity to defend themselves.
Bangladesh’s own Constitution, under Article 27, also ensures that “all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law.”
A report by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) shows that in the seven months following the government’s fall last August, at least 119 people were killed and 74 injured in mob attacks.
Over the past decade, 792 people have died in such incidents, with the highest number—179—occurring in 2024 alone.
The Manobadhikar Sanskriti Foundation (MSF) reported that mob killings have surged even more this year.
In August alone, 38 incidents of mob beatings occurred, compared to 51 in July. In August, 23 people were killed and 43 severely injured; in July, 16 were killed.
Among those killed in August, 10 were accused of theft, 4 of suspected theft, 3 of robbery, 2 (including 1 woman) due to personal disputes, 1 over drug-related charges, 2 of mugging, and 1 of extortion.
Meanwhile, attacks on journalists have also sharply increased.
In August, 96 journalists faced assault, legal harassment, threats, and even murder—almost three times higher than in July.
One journalist was killed, 36 faced legal harassment, and 23 were assaulted while performing their duties.
In addition, 349 incidents of violence against women and children were recorded in August—47 rapes, 19 gang rapes, and 4 rape-murders. Among the victims were several minors and people with disabilities.
Religious and ethnic minorities have not been spared either. Ten incidents of violence were reported in August, including attacks, vandalism, and looting of homes and temples.
Police data also paints a grim picture. Between January and June this year, 1,930 people were murdered, 366 robbed, 970 mugged, and 515 kidnapped.
Over 11,000 women and children suffered abuse during this period.
This reflects the collapse of law and order in Bangladesh—where seeking justice often means facing disappointment.
Hence, the question arises: How long will Bangladesh continue down the bloody path of mob justice?
Mob justice is not unique to Bangladesh. Historically, societies without codified laws often used collective punishment—brutal, public, and meant to deter future crimes.
Even in modern history, from the 1692 Salem witch trials in the United States to the mob violence during the French Revolution, from Rwanda’s post-genocide killings to India’s cow-related lynchings, mob justice has appeared as a recurring nightmare whenever law and reason give way to fear and fanaticism.
In South Asia and Africa, such incidents are particularly common. According to Amnesty International, 555 people were victims of mob killings in Nigeria over the past decade.
In South Africa, researcher Carl Kemp reported that in 2022 alone, 1,894 people—about 7% of all homicide victims—were killed by mobs.
In Bangladesh, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. Political manipulation, personal vendettas, and social intolerance have all fueled mob behavior.
From humiliating a retired election commissioner to attacking restaurants and minorities, recent events show how dangerous this trend has become.
According to HRSS, in the past six months alone, 83 people have died in 141 incidents of mob violence.
After the fall of the government on August 5, mob attacks surged. Hindu homes and temples were attacked in 49 districts; over 1,000 properties were damaged.
Investigations found that 98% of these incidents were politically motivated.
Experts like Dhaka University’s Tawhidul Haque argue that vested groups are weaponizing mobs to achieve personal or political goals—turning targeted violence into mob justice.
The roots are clear: Crime, corruption, and the absence of swift, fair justice are feeding frustration. When people see criminals walk free, they lose trust in the system.
Misinformation spreads through Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube—fueling violence. Unemployed youths, driven by frustration and a lack of critical education, become easy tools for manipulation.
The victims are mostly the poor—those who live day to day, fight for survival, and pay the price for a system that fails to protect them.
To stop this descent into chaos, urgent reforms are needed:
- Establish special tribunals for mob-justice cases to ensure swift trials.
- Enact a “Mob Justice Prevention Act”, similar to anti-lynching laws in India, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya.
- Strengthen police accountability: Intervene immediately when mobs form, collect video evidence, and ensure transparency.
- Provide rehabilitation and mental health support for victims and their families.
- Enforce digital laws to track and punish rumor-mongers and inciters of violence online.
Beyond the state, society’s moral backbone—especially the youth and the media—must play an active role.
Role of the youth:
Young people should be educated about the consequences of mob justice and work to counter misinformation online. Campaigns such as #JusticeNotMob can raise awareness through universities, youth organizations, and social media.
Role of the media:
Journalists must go beyond reporting incidents—they must uncover causes, expose administrative failures, and highlight victims’ stories to awaken public empathy.
Fact-checking teams and quick debunking of online rumors are essential to stop misinformation from spreading.
Mob justice is tearing apart the moral fabric of society. To resist it, a united effort is required—from youth activists, journalists, and law enforcement alike.
Together, their courage, integrity, and collective action can restore faith in justice and protect human rights in Bangladesh.
