POBNEWS24, Dhaka June 15, 2025 : An NGO called Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has said that 172 people have been killed in Bangladesh in the last 10 months by creating mobs on various charges. According to the organization, these people were killed by creating mobs on charges of thieves, robbers, extortionists, and in some cases, by accusing them of being associates and friends of the ousted Awami League and brokers of India. Many of the deceased had no cases against them. In addition, business establishments were destroyed by creating mobs and thousands of families were left stranded on the streets.
According to the Ain Salish Kendra, the office of journalist Mir Afroz Zaman in Uttara, who was called an Indian broker, was vandalized and the coordinators who created the mob with the help of the police evicted him with the help of the police of Uttara Paschim Police Station. The journalist’s family is facing an uncertain future. Not only that family, but thousands of families are facing destruction.
In the report, the Law and Arbitration Center (LAK) said that from last August to May 31, 172 people were beaten and hacked to death in eight departments. Of them, 80 were killed in Dhaka, 28 in Chittagong, 16 in Barisal and Rajshahi, 14 in Khulna, 7 in Rangpur, 6 in Mymensingh and 5 in Sylhet. The highest number of killings caused by mobs occurred in September last year. 28 people were killed that month.
Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan has said that killing people by creating a mob is a planned murder and a serious crime. She said that it is a planned and deliberate murder. And all those who participate in it are equally responsible. According to Section 302 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, the punishment for deliberate murder is death penalty or life imprisonment.
The report also said that what are the law enforcement agencies doing? Despite repeated requests from the police and the government not to take the law into their own hands, they are unable to prevent mobs and mass beatings. However, this time the law enforcement agencies and the army have announced to be strict. Recently, the police, RAB and the army have prevented some incidents. On May 16, some youths created a mob to arrest a publisher in Dhanmondi. They pressured the police to arrest him, but the mob was prevented by the determination of Dhanmondi Police Station OC Keshinyu Marma. Apart from this, the police and the army have also recently prevented some mobs in Dhaka, Rangpur, Sylhet and Chittagong.
Meanwhile, the police headquarters has issued a circular warning not to create mobs. If any person commits a wrong or crime, the police headquarters has asked them to contact the national emergency service 999 or the nearest police station. AIG of the police headquarters Enamul Haque Sagar said that the police have been instructed to take action against any mob. No one can take the law into their own hands.
“In a civilized society, killing someone outside the judicial system cannot be justified,” said Kazi Latifur Reza, associate professor of the Law and Human Rights Department of Ranada Prasad Saha (RP Saha) University. It questions our human values.
Referring to the process of stopping the incidents of mob lynching, Kazi Latifur Reza said that public awareness must be increased, information must be verified and disseminated quickly to prevent rumors, strict law enforcement must be ensured, and exemplary punishment must be given.
