Bangladesh saw a sharp escalation in mob lynchings, rape, and attacks on minority communities in September, according to a new report by the Human Rights Culture Foundation (MSF). Based on media reports and its own field investigations, the human rights organization found that deaths from mob lynchings rose from 23 in August to 24 in September, signaling what it called a “deep crisis of impunity and moral decay.” The report warned that citizens’ right to safety and justice is being eroded amid growing public distrust and state indifference.
MSF cited one case in Brahmanbaria, where a young man accused of theft died after being beaten by locals and later held in police custody. “Violence begins with mob attacks and continues inside state institutions,” the report noted, adding that the government’s silence has only emboldened such acts. MSF Chief Executive Mohammad Saidur Rahman stated, “In some cases, it seems the government is even instigating mob terrorism.”
The report also documented a rise in gender-based and communal violence. Reported rape cases increased from 47 in August to 53 in September—including 13 gang rapes and three rape-murders—while attacks on minority communities surged. Twenty-nine incidents of idol vandalism, 16 attacks on temples and shrines, and arson at 12 minority homes were recorded. In Khagrachhari, three Indigenous youths were shot while protesting, further highlighting the growing insecurity of marginalized groups.
MSF has urged authorities to conduct swift and impartial investigations into mob lynchings, custodial deaths, sexual violence, and attacks on minorities, and to ensure exemplary punishment for perpetrators. Without justice, the report warns, this escalating culture of violence will continue to destroy the social fabric and deepen fear across the country.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 