Mob Violence: A ‘Gallows’ in the Hands of the Public
INCIDENTS of mob violence are not entirely new in Bangladesh. However, their prevalence in recent years has become a cause for deep concern.
According to statistics from Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), during the first nine months of 2026, 171 people were killed in mob violence, while 51 were killed in 2023, 128 in 2024 and 198 in 2025 respectively.
On the other hand, according to data from the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), 187 people were killed and 401 injured in 398 incidents of mob violence as of September 2026.
While the figures may vary depending on the source and the methodology used for calculation, the data from both organizations point toward a grim reality.
Human life is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the frenzy of the mob; but the question arises: why does this trend exist? Why should a group of people take it upon themselves to act as judges the moment an accusation of theft, robbery, mugging, or any other crime is raised? Who granted them this authority?
An accusation is not proof of a crime. The state has its own laws, courts, and judicial system to punish offenders.
When a mob bypasses this process and beats someone to death, it ceases to be justice — it becomes an extrajudicial killing. Various psychological factors underlie this trend.
A culture of impunity and weak law enforcement certainly play a role.
When individuals believe they can commit crimes and get away with them, or that law enforcement agencies will fail to take timely, effective action, social order begins to collapse.
Furthermore, conflicts involving political and social power often create conditions where the public can be exploited.
It has been alleged that the lack of visible and effective measures to prevent mob violence, particularly during the tenure of the interim government, has fueled frustration, anger, and panic among the public.
When the state’s silence emboldens perpetrators, it also fosters a tendency among ordinary citizens to take the law into their own hands.
It is the responsibility of the authorities to conduct impartial investigations into every incident, bring those involved to justice, and take effective measures to prevent future violence.
The weakness of the state can never serve as a license for mob killings; on the contrary, such circumstances only heighten the state’s responsibility.
It must be remembered that the very crowd carrying out an execution today could, tomorrow, see one of its own members fall victim to a similar act of mob violence.
If the state fails to protect human lives, the rule of law becomes a distant prospect. The glory of its development trajectory is tarnished. Things cannot go on like this.
