Eminent jurist Sara Hossain has expressed grave concern over Bangladesh’s deepening culture of impunity, rising mob violence, and the systematic exclusion of marginalized voices from politics. Speaking to Samakal, she stressed that justice and democracy are being eroded when crimes go unpunished and communities are denied representation.
She highlighted recent incidents where powerful local figures arranged arbitration in place of legal process, even in cases of rape. Victims demanding justice were silenced, perpetrators were fined and freed, and women were further punished through forced divorce. “When such crimes are ‘settled’ outside the courts, it is not justice, it is the destruction of justice,” Hossain said.
Hossain warned that this impunity fuels mob violence, where people, having lost faith in the justice system, turn to vigilante punishment. This not only undermines the rule of law but also reinforces cycles of fear and insecurity.
She further criticized the exclusionary nature of political decision-making, noting that commissions formed to oversee critical national crises remain dominated by men. “None of the commissions have included women, though women have been among those most affected,” she emphasized, calling this erasure a direct blow to inclusive democracy.
According to Hossain, the convergence of impunity, mob violence, and exclusion creates a dangerous environment where victims remain unprotected, perpetrators act without fear, and political structures remain closed to half the population.
She concluded with a call for urgent reform, ensuring accountability in law enforcement, protecting victims’ rights, and guaranteeing women’s presence in all decision-making bodies. “Unless we act now, the erosion of justice and democracy will only deepen,” she cautioned.
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