Three teenaged friends, Rihan Uddin Mahin, Rahat, and Manik, were crossing the Kanchannagar bridge in Fatikchhari on their way back home in the early hours of August 22. They had just come back from a trip to Cox's Bazar.
Suddenly, shouts rang out from all around, "Thief! Thief! Catch them!" Within moments, several young men came running with sticks.
The three teenagers were stopped beside the bridge, a short distance away from Rihan's home. Ropes were tied around their necks as a crowd gathered, including Mahin's parents. Then began the merciless beating. Some recorded videos on their phones, some hurled insults, while others continued striking them.
The three teenagers broke down in tears, begging for their lives, saying, "We are not thieves, we are just going home."
But no one listened. The law was in the hands of the mob. And that law pronounced its brutal verdict - death. Within minutes, Rihan Mahin died on the spot, in front of his helpless parents. The two others were left in critical condition.
In various regions of the country including the capital, incidents of mob violence are rising alarmingly. In August alone, at least 38 cases of mob beating occurred, according to a human rights groups. These incidents left 23 dead and 43 seriously injured. Among the injured, 22 were handed over to the police.
As recently as Sunday, in Natore Sadar's Nepaldighi, a man named Nabi Ali, 50, was killed in a mob beating on suspicion of theft, also in the early hours. Nabi was a resident of Rajshahi district. For a long time, he had been living in his in-laws' house in Dighapatia union in Natore Sadar upazila.
Mahabur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Natore Sadar Police Station, said police initially suspected that Nabi Ali died as a result of the mob beating.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, the officer said.
Although the locations, dates, and circumstances of the two mob violence incidents above are completely different, there are several similarities in the nature of the attacks. Each case involves attacks based on unverified information and suspicion, taking the law into one's own hands, and the rapid mobilisation of mobs.
In each incident, a suspicion is first spread. Then a "mob" is organised, which subsequently attacks the suspected individuals. Throughout this entire process, no one waits for the police to arrive at the initial stage.
However, mob violence does not always occur solely based on suspicion. Even individuals who are under the custody of law enforcement agencies can fall victim to mob attacks. For example, former law minister Anisul Haque, who was arrested in a murder case, was beaten by an "angry crowd" at a Narayanganj court on 28 April.
Touhidul Haque, associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research of Dhaka University, said there are two types of mobs.
He told Stream, "I see two patterns of mobs. One is a mob with political motives, and the other is a mob driven by personal anger, revenge, or the aim of seizing someone's property or business."
However, Touhidul describes the current incidents not as mobs, but as crimes.
"If a mob acts in a planned manner, then it cannot really be called a mob. The violence committed in a planned manner is actually a crime. What is happening here is not mob [violence]; it is absolutely a crime. It may appear in the form of a mob, but it is premeditated," he said.
In defining a mob, he says, "A mob involves an element of spontaneity. It just happens. But here, they are finding out the house address, deciding who will go, organising themselves beforehand, and then going. That is no longer a mob. It is a criminal offence."
Scary numbers: A sharp increase in mob violence
According to the Ain o Salish Kendra, 51 people died in mob violence in Bangladesh in 2023, which is an average of 4.25 people per month. The death rate remained similar up to July 2024. In the first seven months of 2024, 32 people died in mob violence, averaging 4.57 people per month.
However, following the Awami League government's fall on 5 August last year, this rate suddenly increased. While 32 people died in the first seven months of 2024, 96 people died in mob violence in the last five months, averaging nearly 19.2 people per month.
In total, 128 people were killed in so-called mob violence in 2024, which is 77 more than the previous year.
In 2025, 126 people were killed in mob violence in just the first eight months, averaging nearly 15.75 people per month. This shows an increase of about 3.45 times compared to the first seven months of last year.
According to Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation, based on various media reports, 38 incidents of mob beating took place in August 2025. Although the number of incidents decreased compared to the previous month (51 incidents), the number of deaths increased to 23 from 16 in July. A total of 43 people were seriously injured, among whom 22 were handed over to the police.
MSF believes that carrying out mob beatings and killings ignoring the law is a criminal offence, which is considered extrajudicial killing. It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies and the state to identify the perpetrators and take appropriate action.
Professor Rabiul Islam, head of the Department of Law and Justice at Jahangirnagar University, said there is some laxity and a lack of effective action within the country's law enforcement agencies.
"A major reason for the rising crime rate in Bangladesh is that these law-enforcing agencies are not functioning at full capacity. The exercise of the military's magisterial powers has also decreased compared to before. Furthermore, the long-standing internal influence within government structures and the lack of proper coordination among agencies are also key reasons for the failure to maintain law and order," he also said.
He also added that if the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law do not coordinate properly, administrative measures remain limited. As a result, the tendency to take the law into one's own hands increases, creating a sense of insecurity among the general public.
"Swift justice is essential in incidents like mob beatings or mob violence. Although Bangladesh has speedy trial tribunals, they are not effectively implemented. When most cases go to regular courts, it creates a culture of impunity, giving offenders a sense of being above the law," The professor said, adding that if the speedy trial system were properly enforced, even issues related to bail and guarantees could be reduced.
Prevalent issues in mob violence
Regarding mob violence, some differences are observed in the data from two human rights organisations—Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and the Manobadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF). ASK reports that 32 people were killed in mob violence from January to July 2024. According to MSF, the number of deaths during the same period was 42.
According to ASK's data from August last year to May this year, 178 people fell victim to mob violence. However, MSF's monthly report records this number as 142.
Reports from these organisations show that the main causes of mob violence before and after mass uprisings are political conflicts, past enmity, theft and robbery, social disputes, and local rivalries. In particular, several individuals have been beaten by mobs over allegations of involvement with the banned student wing of the ruling party and other political groups.
Mob beatings and the legal perspective
The Constitution of Bangladesh places importance on protecting citizens' fundamental rights. It ensures that no one can be exempted from punishment for violating these fundamental rights.
The third part of the Constitution defines the fundamental rights of citizens.
According to Article 27, "All citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection under the law."
On the other hand, Article 35(5) states, "No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment."
According to Clause 3 of the same Article, every person accused of a criminal offense shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an independent and impartial court or tribunal.
The Constitution is also clear about the rights of arrested individuals.
According to Article 33(1), no arrested person shall be unnecessarily detained in custody, and they shall not be deprived of the opportunity to consult a designated lawyer and to defend themselves.
According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, anyone who commits a crime must be handed over to the police. As an exception, under Section 187 of the Penal Code, the maximum punishment may be six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 500.
According to Section 304 of the Penal Code, if a person dies in an attack, the maximum punishment may be up to ten years of imprisonment or a fine. If premeditated murder is proven, the offender may face life imprisonment or a maximum of ten years' imprisonment along with a fine.
If a death occurs in a mob beating, it is considered "murder" under Section 299 of the Penal Code 1860. A case can be filed against the guilty under Section 302, where the maximum punishment is the death penalty. Additionally, the court may impose life imprisonment and a fine if it desires so.
Article 10 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights also says that every citizen has the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial court.
Lawyer and human rights activist Noor Khan believes that having laws alone is not enough to prevent mob violence. Proper enforcement of the law is crucial.
"Before asking whether a law exists, we need to see whether the existing laws is effectively enforced or not. When instability prevails in the country, people tend to take the law into their own hands," he said.
Pointing out the shortcomings in administrative action, the human rights activist said, "So far, no effective measures have been taken to warn those who incite mob violence."
Additionally, Supreme Court lawyer Elius Ahmed said, "When people lack trust in the rule of law and its proper enforcement, some take the law into their own hands. They assume the role of ruler or judge themselves.
"When the rule of law is not properly enforced, public confidence declines, and such violence."
Administrative role in controlling mob
On August 15, while placing flowers on the death anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32, rickshawpuller Md Azizur Rahman was beaten by a mob and arrested in an attempted murder case related to the July Uprising.
Later, he was granted bail on 17 August after a hearing in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MA Azharul Islam.
After that, a statement from the Chief Adviser's Office said, "All accused individuals will be treated according to the laws of the country, and the court will make the final decision.
"Any attack or physical assault will be considered illegal and a criminal offence. Law enforcement agencies will identify those who create mobs and cause disorder and take appropriate action."
On 17 June, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali said if the police fail to prevent mob beatings or mob justice in the capital, action will also be taken against the responsible personnel.
On 18 August, at the 12th meeting of law enforcement agencies held in the Ministry of Home Affairs conference room, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, "Discussions were held on how to reduce mob justice. Mob justice has decreased in Dhaka, but a few incidents are still occurring in surrounding areas."
"The government is trying to control it as much as possible."
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