168 killed in mob violence, 133 killed in political violence, total injured 7,511 in 2025: HRSS

Staff Correspondent

Last year, 168 people were killed and 248 injured in 292 mob violence and mass beatings on charges of theft, robbery, extortion, domination, and religious insults, according to HRSS.

Political and electoral violence, mob violence and lynching, torture of journalists, border killings and torture, extrajudicial killings, and violence against women and children in Bangladesh have reached alarming levels in 2025, according to the human rights organization Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).

According to the organization’s annual report published on Thursday (January 1), 133 people were killed and 7,511 people were injured in 914 violent incidents across the country in 2025, including political hegemony, revenge, clashes centered on assemblies, disputes over committee formation, election-related violence, extortion and encroachment. Three people were killed and 494 people were injured in 54 election-related violence centered on the upcoming 13th national election.

Last year, 168 people were killed and 248 injured in 292 mob violence and mass beatings on charges of theft, robbery, extortion, domination, and religious insults, according to HRSS.

The report said that in 2025, 539 journalists were killed, tortured and harassed in 318 attacks across the country. Of these, 3 were killed, 273 were injured, 57 were assaulted, 83 were threatened and 17 journalists were arrested. In addition, 107 journalists have been charged in 34 cases.

It was also mentioned that 24 people were arrested and 54 were charged in 27 cases under the Cyber ​​Security Act 2023 and the Cyber ​​Security Ordinance 2025. In addition, 512 people were injured and 36 people were arrested in 47 meetings and gatherings, Section 144 was imposed and clashes broke out.

The report, expressing concern about extrajudicial killings and deaths in police stations and prisons, said that 40 people were killed in operations by law enforcement agencies. Another 10 died while fleeing from fear of the police or due to illness. In addition, 92 people (30 prisoners and 62 detainees) died in prison custody due to illness, suicide and torture.

In 2025, 2,047 women and girls were victims of violence. Of these, 828 were victims of rape, of whom 474 were children. 179 were victims of gang rape and 28 were killed after rape. 10 women committed suicide due to these incidents. In addition, 414 were victims of sexual assault, 35 were killed in dowry violence and 383 were killed in domestic violence. 1,371 were victims of child abuse, of which 288 children lost their lives.

30 people were killed, 2 were beaten to death, 39 were injured and 63 were arrested in BSF firing on the India-Bangladesh border. In addition, 3493 people were captured and 143 fishermen were taken from Pushin and the Bay of Bengal.
2 people were injured in Arakan Army firing on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, 1 person was killed and 12 were injured in a landmine explosion. 176 fishermen were captured along with 21 trawlers. 96 people were killed and 1021 were injured in incidents of worker torture. 168 workers died in accidents at work.

HRSS Executive Director Ijazul Islam said, “Coordinated initiatives at all levels of the state and society are necessary to strengthen the rule of law and democracy in the country. If mob violence, deaths in custody, political tensions, and interference with freedom of expression continue, the human rights situation will deteriorate further,” he warned.

Ijazul Islam called on the government to take accountable and responsible steps to control the situation. He also requested civil society, media and human rights organizations to play a more active role.