At least 32 people were killed in mob violence across Bangladesh in May, the highest monthly death toll in six months, according to human rights organisation Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF).
The monthly report also says, 71 people were critically injured across at least 69 separate incidents -- a sharp rise from April, when 21 people were killed and 49 injured.
"The number of people killed in mob violence rose from 21 to 32 in May, reflecting a clear rise in the tendency of people to take the law into their own hands," MSF said in the report.
The figures show a steady upward trend, with deaths recorded at 19 in March, 18 in February, 21 in January, and 10 in December 2025.
Of the 32 killed in May, 14 died over theft allegations, four following altercations, two over robbery allegations, and two over alleged rape and sexual assault. At least 35 of the injured were handed over to police.
MSF said members of law enforcement were also attacked by mobs.
The killings continued despite repeated assurances from Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed that mob justice would not be tolerated. The issue was also raised in parliament. During a Police Week programme on May 10, the home minister said the government would amend laws or introduce new legislation if necessary to curb mob violence.
MSF Founding President Advocate Sultana Kamal said the surge in violence has made public security "a matter of serious concern."
The report also recorded a significant rise in violence against women and children. At least 326 such incidents were logged in May -- 12 more than the previous month.
Rape cases rose by 40% to 70 incidents, while gang-rape cases climbed to 16. Cases of rape followed by murder reached six, up from two in April.
MSF highlighted the rape, murder, and beheading of eight-year-old Ramisa, praising swift arrests and the initiation of trial proceedings, but called for impartial and speedy justice across all such cases.
Meanwhile, seven people died in jail custody during May, the report said.
On the India-Bangladesh border, four Bangladeshis were killed by India’s Border Security Force -- three shot and one tortured to death. In addition, the bodies of a fisherman and an unidentified woman were recovered from border areas, and a young man was stabbed to death near the frontier, bringing Bangladesh-India border-related deaths to seven.
Along the Myanmar border, three Bangladeshis were killed in two separate landmine explosions.
The report also noted a slight improvement in political violence: three people were killed in both April and May, while injuries fell from 303 in April to 193 in May.
