Will Bangladesh ever be safe? Mob violence on the rise

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 13, 2025

Anarchical Bangladesh under the illegitimate rule of Md Yunus seems to be becoming more and more insecure for ordinary citizens, specially Hindu minorities living exposed to all kinds of man-sponsored dangers in the plainlands. Apart from the general collapse of the law and order situation across the country a major point of worry is turning out to be increasing mob violence, specially since the forcible seizure of power by the so-called interim regime backed by the communalist and fundamentalist elements in August last year.

This all round insecurity among people has come out in sharp relief in the findings of a nationwide survey that reveals that that around 80% of people in Bangladesh are increasingly concerned about mob violence. In addition, 56% of respondents were also concerned about women's safety, 61% about safety at night, and 67% about harassment based on clothing.The survey, conducted via telephone interviews with men and women across 64 districts underscores a grim reality for the nation: That the majority of people, regardless of their location, do not feel safe in this country.

Mob violence in Bangladesh is nothing new; in fact it has been in existence since the emergence of the country as an independent nation in 1971. But this tendency of getting rid of perceived or real enemies through mob violence in stead of direct murder has gained in momentum since August last year when the incumbent interim government had taken over power. Sources from across the border said that over the past one year as many as 110 such incidents have taken place and in most of them the minority Hindus have been victims even though in certain cases majority Muslims politically aligned with the ousted Awami League also lost their lives in attacks by violent mobs. Those perpetrating mob violence in an organised manner first instigate people against an individual or group with false charges and then engineer the violent attacks. The police machinery which has become toothless under the interim regime in most of the cases remain mute spectators or merely stand by to look away even as innocent people are lynched to death. The latest such incident occurred in Rangpur district when two innocent Hindu men had been detained as suspected van lifters and then lynched to death in front of police personnel. Such barbaric incidents will continue unless leashed up by the government machinery with seriousness, sources added.

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