Another disturbing case of moral policing has recently surfaced—this time on the deck of a picnic launch in Munshiganj on Friday night.
Footage of the incident, now viral, showing two young women being physically assaulted aboard the launch has triggered widespread condemnation and renewed concerns about growing moral policing trends across the country.
Local men took it upon themselves to enforce their version of “public decency”.
The incident occurred when a launch, hired by a group of passengers traveling from South Keraniganj to Mohonpur in Chandpur, stopped at the Munshiganj terminal.
What was meant to be a simple shopping break turned violent when a verbal altercation broke out between launch passengers and local students and residents.
In the chaos that followed, a group of locals stormed the vessel, vandalising it and assaulting several passengers.
Among them was Nehal Ahmed Jihad, who was seen in a now-viral video dragging two young women to the deck and whipping them with a belt, while others stood by and some cheered.
Another video captured a group of young men assaulting a different woman on the second floor of the launch.
Their identities remain unknown.
The launch, MV Captain, eventually left for Dhaka after law enforcement intervened and brought the situation under control.
But the video is still circulating on social media.
Jihad, who was detained by the police the following afternoon around 2pm, showed no signs of remorse when speaking to journalists.
“I only acted to help,” he claimed.
“Some people were looting the launch. We removed those we knew. The crowd was enraged at the two girls. They asked us to save them. As an elder brother, I scolded them. I respect the law. To manage the situation, I gave them a couple of lashes to calm things down.”
To many, this “elder brother” narrative is all too familiar—an excuse often used to justify public shaming and abuse of women under the garb of protection.
Additional SP Md Feroz Kabir confirmed Jihad’s detention, saying that legal action will follow the investigation.
A case has been filed and more arrests are expected.
The case, filed on Sunday, names Nehal Ahmed as the key accused, along with 20–25 other individuals.
Prof Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka University had earlier warned during a separate incident that if the interim government does not take swift action against mob justice, a “massacre” will occur.
The failure to act decisively against such vigilantism has allowed violence to repeat itself.
Dhaka Tribune News Editor Anando Mostafa suggested using the term “mob violence" instead of "mob justice."
He explained that "mob violence" accurately reflects the unlawful and violent nature of such acts, while "mob justice" misleadingly implies that the mob is delivering justice.
This term can unintentionally lend moral or ethical legitimacy to actions that bypass the legal system and often result in injustice, he added.
There is a popular quote of Daniel Cameron’s: “Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice.” This highlights a key truth.
It showcases that justice must come through lawful means, not through violence or mob action. Taking the law into one’s own hands only breeds fear and chaos, not justice.
As Bangladesh continues to confront changes in its political and social landscape, such incidents highlight the dangers of unchecked mob behaviour, fueled by outdated ideas of morality.
As the nation reels from yet another act of moral policing, it’s time to be vigilant.
A university student, Badhon Sultana, said: “Another man plays judge of women’s choices in the name of morality. No man has the right, but they keep taking it. If we don’t speak out or demand accountability, the next victim could be me, you or anyone else.”
So the question is no longer whether it was mob justice or violence—it’s whether we’ll allow this to continue.
And most importantly—how do we stop it?
