Mob violence continues to surge across the country, with at least 13 incidents reported in the first 10 days of August, leaving nine people dead and 13 others injured, according to newspaper reports.
Data from the Human Rights Culture Foundation (MSF) shows that 78 people were killed in mob attacks between January and July this year. Adding August’s incidents raises the death toll to 87, with 266 injured during the period. The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reports at least 111 deaths from mob violence between January 1 and August 10.
The most recent case occurred on August 9 in Rangpur, where two men — Rupolal Das and his son-in-law Pradeep Das — were beaten to death on suspicion of theft in Taraganj upazila. On the same day in Madaripur, three men accused of theft were assaulted, with one victim nearly losing an eye.
Analysis of the 13 August cases shows that eight were triggered by theft suspicions, while the others stemmed from extortion, personal feuds, or disputes.
Experts link the rise in mob violence to a culture of impunity, with Dhaka University’s Sajjad Siddiqui noting that both spontaneous and politically motivated mobs have emerged in the post-uprising period.
Public concern over mob violence is high. A BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) “Pulse Survey 3” released yesterday found that 80% of respondents are worried about mob violence, along with concerns over women’s safety (56%), night travel safety (61%), and harassment due to clothing (67%).
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