Mob violence is claiming the lives of more than 16 people every month

Mob violence continues to grip the country, claiming lives and destroying property despite assurances from the current government to curb such incidents.

A recent quarterly report by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) reveals that at least 49 people were killed and 80 injured in 88 incidents of mob violence between January and March this year.

The latest victim was a pir, Shamim Reza (Jahangir), who was beaten to death on Saturday after several hundred people stormed his shrine in Philipnagar village of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia over allegations of blasphemy. The mob also vandalised and set fire to the shrine, reportedly in the presence of police.

According to the report, such incidents were triggered by allegations of theft, robbery, mugging, offensive remarks about religion, heated arguments, and struggles for dominance, among other factors.

Data from Ain o Salish Kendra shows that 23 people were killed in mob violence during January and February alone this year, while its annual report records 198 deaths from such incidents in 2025.

Locals said Shamim Reza, who was well-educated, had long been involved in religious activities at his shrine. However, some of his recent statements circulated on social media, sparking outrage among a section of the community, who accused him of making derogatory remarks about Islam.

Police said the violence was triggered by a viral video, initially believed to be old. The unrest escalated before its authenticity could be verified, underscoring the risks of emotionally driven reactions without fact-checking.

As tensions mounted in the morning, hundreds gathered by noon and attacked the shrine. Witnesses said Jahangir and his followers were assaulted, leaving him critically injured. He was later taken to Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex, where he died while undergoing treatment.

Despite police presence, locals said the situation quickly spiralled out of control. Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur Police Station Arifur Rahman noted that a small police contingent was unable to manage the large crowd.

Sources added that Shamim Reza had faced similar allegations in 2021 and was arrested at the time.

On 30 March, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the interim government had failed to control mob violence due to its weakness, adding that the BNP government would not tolerate such disorder. He made the remarks during a meeting with French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet at the Secretariat, according to a ministry press release.

Crime analyst Dr Md Omar Faruk, a professor at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said mob violence is closely linked to social class, politics, and economic factors.

“One group often seeks to assert dominance over another through mob violence. In the absence of exemplary punishment, such incidents continue. There is a clear lack of rule of law,” he said.

Although the government has declared a zero-tolerance stance on mob violence, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

When contacted, Additional Secretary (Police Wing) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Md Ataur Rahman Khan said authorities are working under the zero-tolerance policy and expressed hope that such incidents can be reduced.