A mob in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia on April 12 attacked a shrine after accusing its caretaker of blasphemy, killing 65-year-old spiritual leader Abdul Rahman Shamim and vandalising and setting fire to the shrine.
Since the political transition in August 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed repeated incidents of mob violence triggered by rumors, allegations or suspicion, raising concerns over law enforcement response and the growing influence of online incitement.
Although the situation has improved somewhat following the formation of an elected government, incidents of mob violence continue, fueled by social media rumors, perceived impunity and spontaneous public outrage.
Against this backdrop, the government is considering whether to amend existing laws or introduce a separate legal framework to address mob violence.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed recently said existing laws may not be sufficient to fully deal with such incidents, indicating that legal reforms or a new law could be necessary.
“We are taking measures as much as possible under the existing laws,” he said at a Police Week event at Rajarbagh Police Auditorium. “However, if legal reform or amendments are required, those will also be considered. Mob culture may require a separate law or amendments for effective control.”
Existing legal framework
Bangladesh currently has no standalone law on mob violence or lynching. Such cases are generally prosecuted under the Penal Code of 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898.
In cases of mob killings, charges are usually brought under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Depending on circumstances, Section 304 on culpable homicide may also be applied.
For assault and grievous injury, Sections 323, 325 and 326 are commonly used. Provisions on unlawful assembly and rioting, including Sections 141, 143, 146 and 149, are also invoked in group violence cases.
If incidents are linked to rumors, incitement or organized mobilization through social media, authorities may apply the Cyber Security Act 2023. In some cases, the Special Powers Act 1974 is also used in the interest of public order.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Manzill Murshid said the absence of a specific legal definition of mob violence creates complications in prosecution.
“Although cases are filed under different sections, mob violence itself has not been separately defined,” he said. “As a result, determining applicable provisions often becomes complex during investigations.”
He also stressed that instigators behind mob attacks should be held accountable alongside direct participants.
“In many cases, mobs are deliberately mobilized through planned incitement. The law should address not only attackers but also those who organize or provoke them,” he said.
Murshid added that stricter provisions, including non-bailable punishments, could have a deterrent effect.
Dhaka University teacher Dr Md Abdur Razzaque Khan said mob violence is being driven by political polarization, a culture of impunity and intolerance toward dissent and minority communities.
“In many cases, participants believe they are delivering justice, but in reality, it undermines the rule of law and normalizes violence,” he said.
He cautioned that legal measures alone would not be sufficient.
“Alongside legal reforms, there must be swift justice, control over online rumours, an end to political patronage of violence and restoration of trust in the legal system,” he added.
Human rights organizations say mob violence has increased significantly since the political transition in August 2024.
Data from Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) indicate that several hundred people have been killed in mob attacks between August 2024 and March 2026.
According to the organizations, at least 96 people were killed in the last five months of 2024 alone. In 2025, the figure rose to nearly 197–198 deaths, while another 43 deaths were reported in the first three months of 2026.
Between August 2024 and March 2026, approximately 337 people were killed in mob violence, according to the data.
Rights groups also reported widespread non-lethal violence. In the three months following August 2024, nearly 3,000 teachers were reportedly attacked or intimidated, with at least six deaths recorded.
Several high-profile incidents, including the beating death of Tofazzal Hossain at Dhaka University and the killing of former Rajshahi University Chhatra League leader Abdullah Al Masud, sparked nationwide outrage.
Attacks on religious and minority communities have also been reported. Rights groups say at least 104 attacks on shrines took place between August 2024 and April 2026.
In December 2025, following the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Osman Hadi, mobs reportedly attacked several media and cultural institutions, including Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Chhayanaut and Udichi.
Another widely reported case involved the killing and burning of a worker, Dipu Chandra Das, following allegations of blasphemy.