THE 18 months under the interim administration, after the fall of the Awami League government, were described by many as a period of ‘mob rule.’ Rights group Ain O Salish Kendra reported that at least 259 people had been killed and 313 injured in 413 incidents of mob violence in August 2024–January 2026. It also reported that typical cases of mob assaults, usually targeting individuals accused of theft or other minor crimes, roughly tripled in 2025 compared with 2023. Mob violence took a terrible turn when a grave was dug open and a corpse was burnt over sectarian disputes concerning burial practices. After the 2024 uprising, as sectarian and polarising politics intensified in the run-up to the national elections, the interim government appeared unable or unwilling to contain the escalating wave of mob violence. In this context, the home minister of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government said that the days of mob rule are over. Other members of the cabinet, including the prime minister, also expressed commitment to upholding the rule of law. Amid such a situation, two men were beaten to death over an allegation of mugging in Gaibandha on February 20.
The deaths of two men in mob violence mark the first such reported incident since the BNP government assumed office. The police reported that the men had allegedly mugged two pedestrians near the Madarhat ferry ghat bridge, threatening them with weapons. Local people intervened, took the men to a nearby school field and assaulted them. The nature of the attack is strikingly similar to that of previous cases. On July 3, 2025, a woman and her son and daughter were beaten to death at Muradnagar in Cumilla, allegedly for their involvement in drug dealing. The majority of the cases of mob violence did not see a conviction. In what follows, rights activists say that pervasive impunity reinforces vigilantism as attackers rarely face legal consequences, which has normalised mob violence and discouraged reliance on formal institutions. Law and order has generally been on the decline in recent months. In November 2025, the Manabadhikar Songshkriti Foundation reported an increase in the recovery of the unidentified bodies. The frequent recovery of unidentified, decomposed bodies in public places also suggests that a climate of impunity persists.
The government should, therefore, know that a mere announcement will not end mob violence and improve law and order. They must act decisively to break this cycle of violence and restore public trust by strengthening law enforcement and providing adequate resources. Rapid-response mechanisms are essential to prevent mob attacks. Crucially, perpetrators of mob violence must face expeditious and deterrent legal consequences to end the culture of impunity.
