23 killed in mob attacks in September, deaths in custody rise to 24

Staff Reporter

The Human Rights Culture Foundation (MSF) has published a worrying report on the human rights and overall security situation in the country in the just-ended month of September.

This review, based on news published in the country’s major media outlets and its own data collection, shows that the trend of taking the law into one’s own hands and deaths in custody have increased alarmingly.

There were at least 65 incidents of ‘mob’ violence or mass beatings in September, leaving 23 people dead and 74 injured.

This tendency for ordinary people to take the law into their own hands, whether over simple crimes or family and political disputes, poses a major threat to civil security.

These mob violence incidents mainly occur under the pretext of suspicion of theft and robbery, land disputes and economic disputes, verbal arguments, and sexual violence.

According to MSF, 24 people died in custody in September, compared to just nine in August, a more than 50% increase in the number of deaths in custody in one month.

In addition, information about the death of a woman in the custody of law enforcement agencies has also been recorded.

At least one person was killed and 384 injured in political violence in September. In addition, seven more people were killed in unidentified attacks.

Worryingly, 71 unidentified bodies were recovered from various parts of the country in September alone, of which 55 were men, 15 were women, and 1 person’s age and gender could not be identified.

While physical attacks on press freedom have decreased somewhat, legal pressure and harassment have increased. In September, 28 journalists were subjected to torture and attacks, and 9 faced legal complications.

At the same time, there is evidence of increased enforcement of cyber and digital laws. In September, 8 cases were registered under the Digital or Cyber ​​Security Act, compared to 3 cases in August, and the number of arrests increased from 3 to 8.

The report also highlighted attacks on minority communities and their places of worship. In September, 10 idol vandalisms and 1 incident of ethnic violence occurred across the country.

In addition, MSF has highlighted the issue of insulting religious values ​​and provocative activities such as holding picnics after slaughtering cows at the Kushtia crematorium and taking photos of people wearing shoes on pyres and tombs.

Incidents of Bangladeshi nationals being killed and injured in firing by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in the border area, as well as attempts at illegal push-ins, have been documented.

On the other hand, at least one Bangladeshi citizen was injured in firing by the Arakan Army on the Myanmar border.

The organization believes that it is essential to take swift, effective and visible steps to curb the culture of taking the law into one’s own hands, to impartially investigate deaths in custody, and to protect human rights within the country, including at the border.