‘Mob is a criminal offence, government failed to stop it’ – NCP statement draws mixed reactions on social media

❐ Staff Reporter

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has strongly condemned the killing of Pir Shamim Reza Jahangir in an attack on a Darbar Sharif in Daulatpur, Kushtia.

In a statement, the party said that those involved in the incident must be quickly arrested and brought to justice.

The party has described such ‘mob’ violence as a serious criminal offense and alleged that the BNP government is failing to prevent such violence.

Netizens have expressed their anger, trolls and outrage on social media in addition to heavy criticism over the NCP’s statement made on Saturday night, April 12.

Some have written that the NCP leaders and activists who initiated mob violence and killings and destruction in the country through the July-August 2024 terror attacks have not had a proper investigation or trial. On the contrary, those who abetted and helped the mob attackers, and who were caught and released, are the ones who are now talking about the mob.

Many say that if the mob terrorism of NCP, Jamaat-Shibir, and BNP had been fairly prosecuted during the Yunus government, the mob terrorists would not have had the courage to commit these incidents today.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the NCP said that it is the responsibility of the courts to investigate and try sensitive allegations like blasphemy. But those who created a mob and committed arson and murder have committed serious crimes under the law.

Law enforcement agencies are urged to quickly identify and take action against the instigators, planners, and participants of the attack.

The statement also said that such mob violence is not possible without the support of local authorities. It was also claimed that the vandalism of shrines and burning of bodies in Rajbari last year had political influence.

The statement also alleged that the law enforcement agencies did not take proper precautions despite previous experience when extremists attacked the slain Pir’s Darbar Sharif on Saturday morning.

The NCP claims that although the Home Minister has repeatedly spoken about stopping ‘mob culture’, in reality it is not being suppressed. It also highlighted the case of two people working at Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) being forced to resign by a government-backed mob after the national elections.

According to them, on the one hand, the government is talking about ending ‘mob culture’, while on the other hand, it is patronizing government-backed groups and using this concept to suppress dissent.

Finally, the NCP said that the government is consistently breaking its election promises and the law and order situation is deteriorating. Therefore, it called on the Home Minister to take effective steps to control the situation rather than playing the role of spokesperson.