South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, unequivocally condemns the mob violence that has intensified in Bangladesh, in the aftermath of the July uprising in 2024. This trend of mob violence appears to be an intricate part of weaponising moral and religious policing by some groups in Bangladesh. It is clear that the present rule of law situation has been noticeably inadequate in responding proactively.
Mob violence and vigilante justice that had intensified during the Interim Government has not halted even after the elections. Reports indicate that mob violence claimed 197 lives in 2025 under the Interim Government. Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation’s monthly monitoring report which records 21 lives lost due to mob violence in January 2026, states that it is double the number that was recorded in December 2025. Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) states 49 deaths occurred due to mob violence in 88 incidents during the first three months of 2026.
SAHR has learned of several recent incidents related to mob violence that have occurred in Bangladesh. Abdur Rahman also known as Shamim Reza or Jahangir, a Sufi elder was beaten and hacked to death on 11 April 2025 in his shrine, in Daulatpur upazila, in western Bangladesh’s Kushtia district. According to the police, the reason for this brutal murder by mobilising a mob is a three-year-old, 30-second video showing the Sufi elder’s alleged remark on the Quran, which resurfaced and went viral at the time. The video of this mob attack on the shrine has also been spreading in the local media and social platforms. On the night of 22 March 2026, a gathering of Baul musicians at a shrine in Bishwanth upazila in Sylhet was disrupted by a mob attack. On the evening of 10 April 2026, near the National Museum gate in Dhaka’s Shahabagh area, a mob rallying under the banner of ‘Azadi Andolan’ assaulted at least seven people, including persons of genderdiverse community while they were having tea in a nearby tea shop.
SAHR is concerned about the lack of response from the Government in publicly condemning the incidents of mob violence, the lethargic attitude of the law enforcement officials in preventing such violence although mob rallying have been organised through spreading hate speech and calling for vigilante justice for days ahead of the incidents. Consequently, the police have not arrested the perpetrators even after the violent incidents took place and video and CCTV clips of these incidents have been available to identify the offenders clearly. This kind of inaction proves evidence of continued impunity.
SAHR joins the local human rights defenders in strongly demanding the newly elected Government of Bangladesh to take immediate proactive actions to halt this trend of mob violence across the country. It is important to send a clear message that mob violence is not tolerated through rigorous actions of the law enforcement in bringing perpetrators as well as those who instigate and incite mob violence before the law. SAHR advocates holistic preventive measures, including laws against hate speech and incitement of mob violence shared at the community level, in order to gain effective results. Victims of mob violence should also be swiftly redressed. SAHR also calls upon the Government to strengthen and regulate the rule of law in the country and fortify the police force through reforms so that the public confidence in them is increased.
On behalf of the members of the South Asians for Human Rights
Dr. Roshmi Goswami
Co-Chairperson
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu
Bureau Member