Dhaka, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least 15 people were killed in mob beatings across Bangladesh in October, raising fresh concerns over the authorities’ failure to contain vigilante violence and ensure accountability for those responsible.
The Daily Star, in an opinion article examining the continuing incidents, said repeated government assurances of strict action had failed to deter perpetrators. It warned that the absence of timely justice was allowing a culture of mob violence to persist.
The article cited two recent killings in Dhaka. Two pickup truck drivers, identified as Jony and Md Nishat, were allegedly beaten to death in Jatrabari after being suspected of involvement in mugging. In another incident, Alam Sheikh, who had reportedly travelled to the capital in search of work and was said to have mental health issues, was beaten to death on the premises of Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital after being suspected of kidnapping.
The newspaper also highlighted a gap between official figures and data compiled by independent rights organisations.
According to a Home Ministry report released on October 20, 40 people were killed in 63 mob-beating incidents between January and September this year. For the corresponding period last year, the ministry had recorded 63 deaths in 107 incidents.
However, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) documented 171 deaths during the first nine months of this year, while the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) recorded 187 deaths and 401 injuries in 398 incidents.
The article recalled Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed’s September 1 assurance that firm action would be taken against mob violence and that existing laws were sufficient to prosecute those involved.
It also cited delays in two high-profile cases from September 2024. In the killing of Tofazzal Hossain at Dhaka University’s Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, warrants were issued against 22 accused, but only six had been arrested. In the killing of former Chhatra League leader Shamim Ahmed, also known as Shamim Molla, at Jahangirnagar University, no investigation report had been submitted, the newspaper said.
The Daily Star called for prompt investigations into every reported mob killing, identification of all those involved and effective prosecution. It also urged the government to reconcile official figures with independent rights groups’ data to assess the scale of the problem and formulate an effective response.
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