Published: 12:35 AM, 21 May 2026
Mob Violence Must Be Eliminated With Iron Hands
Mohammed Enamul Hoque Mithu
The most fundamental responsibility of a state is to ensure the life, security, and justice of its citizens. But when people begin taking the law into their own hands while the administration stands by as a silent spectator, it is not merely a series of isolated incidents that emerge; the entire state system itself comes under question. In recent times, incidents of mob lynching, public violence, social unrest, and several widely discussed events in places like have once again raised deep concerns about the law-and-order situation in Bangladesh.
Cox’s Bazar, once known primarily as a symbol of tourism and natural beauty, is now repeatedly making headlines for crime, violence, and insecurity. Recent incidents there reveal a dangerous rise in both administrative weakness in suppressing crime and retaliatory violence by angry crowds. In some cases, suspected individuals are beaten to death by mobs; in others, “justice” is delivered before law enforcement even arrives. Such realities are not only shameful for a civilized nation, but profoundly dangerous.
According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, the authority to administer justice belongs solely to the courts. Yet in practice, society appears to be drifting toward a culture where accusation itself becomes punishment, suspicion triggers mob fury, and rumors lead to death. Misinformation and unverified claims spread rapidly through social media, often fueling violence within moments. In many cases, law enforcement agencies fail to reach the scene in time; elsewhere, even when present, they struggle to play an effective role. As a result, a section of the public increasingly believes that immediate revenge is more effective than legal justice.
This tendency is not the sign of a healthy society; rather, it reflects a growing loss of public confidence in the state. When people no longer believe that the courts will deliver justice, the police will provide security, or the administration will protect them, a culture of mob justice emerges. Human rights activists often describe this as a “social reaction to state weakness.” Each incident of mob violence is not merely the death of an individual; it is an assault on the rule of law itself.
In recent years, incidents of mob lynching in Bangladesh have increased alarmingly. People are being beaten to death on suspicion of child kidnapping, theft, personal disputes, or simply due to rumors. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is that such acts are often recorded on video and widely circulated on social media, yet in very few cases is swift justice or visible exemplary punishment ensured. This culture of impunity only emboldens perpetrators further.
Concerns regarding criminal activities in Cox’s Bazar are not new. The region has long faced instability driven by drug trafficking, human smuggling, arms trade, tourism-related crimes, and the broader impact of the Rohingya crisis. Recent reports of special operations by law enforcement agencies resulting in the arrest of robbers and muggers have further highlighted the gravity of the situation. At the same time, incidents of human trafficking along the Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar coastal areas continue unabated. Earlier this year, coast guard operations reportedly rescued twenty people, including women and children, from traffickers in coastal regions.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens are increasingly feeling unsafe. Stone-throwing attacks on moving trains, crimes in tourist zones, and public violence have collectively created a climate of fear. Yet responsible state institutions often appear limited to issuing statements after incidents occur or shifting blame rather than taking preventive action.
The question is: why has this situation emerged?
First, there is the culture of impunity. Prolonged delays in the trial of many high-profile murder, violence, and corruption cases have severely weakened public confidence in justice. Second, political influence and abuse of power have created a widespread perception that criminals often escape accountability due to political connections. Third, administrative weakness and lack of coordination have exposed failures in intelligence monitoring and preventive measures before crimes occur.
Perhaps the most alarming development is that society is gradually losing its sensitivity toward violence. People now watch videos of killings, discuss them briefly, and then move on. Media attention lasts only a few days before another incident takes over the headlines. Yet the wounds inflicted upon the state do not heal so easily. Every act of extrajudicial violence further erodes the fragile wall of trust between citizens and the state.
When a state is strong, individuals do not take the law into their own hands. When institutions function effectively, people seek justice, not revenge. But today, reality appears different. Increasingly, people seem more interested in delivering “instant punishment” before turning to the legal system. This is not a sign of civilization; it is a sign of barbarity.
To overcome this crisis, several urgent measures are essential.
First, the state must adopt a strict zero-tolerance policy against mob lynching and public violence. Second, law enforcement agencies must be made free from political influence and held accountable. Third, the judicial system must become faster and more effective so that people regain confidence in the courts. Fourth, stronger technological and legal monitoring is needed to combat rumors and incitement on social media. Above all, society must rebuild respect for the rule of law and strengthen humanitarian values among citizens.
The silence of the state is never truly neutral often, it indirectly encourages crime. If the administration remains silent today, that silence may give birth to even greater chaos tomorrow. History repeatedly teaches us that when law becomes weak, fear, violence, and revenge grow stronger.
Is Bangladesh heading down that path?
The answer to that question does not belong to the government alone. It must also come from every responsible institution of the state, political leadership, civil society, and conscious citizens alike. Because a state is not merely the name of a territory on a map; a state represents security, justice, and public trust. And once that trust collapses, the greatest loss ultimately belongs to the state itself.
Mohammed Enamul Hoque Mithu is a
freelancer and a columnist.
