Staff Correspondent

Mob violence has taken an alarming turn in the country. In the first six months of this year, 135 people were killed and 256 were injured in 263 such incidents across Bangladesh.

These incidents of mob beatings occurred on various pretexts including theft, robbery, snatching, arguments, dominance, and religious defamation. In the same period last year, i.e., 2025, there were 141 incidents of mob violence resulting in 67 deaths and 119 injuries. Compared to that, the number of deaths has nearly doubled this time.

The Bangladesh Civil Rights Society (BCRS) published this information on Saturday (July 18) in a report monitoring the human rights situation over the last six months (January-June 2026). The report was prepared based on news published in mainstream national media, information collected by the organization, and fact-finding reports.

The organization's Executive Director, Sheikh Mohammad Tajul Islam, said that the country's human rights situation may deteriorate further if recent political and electoral violence, mob violence, deaths in prison and custody, violence against women and children, persecution of journalists and workers, political tension, and interference in freedom of expression are not resolved.

According to the report, 58 people were killed in political and electoral violence due to party conflicts and internal feuds in the last six months. Among them, 39 were from the BNP (68%), 6 from Jamaat-e-Islami (11%), and 3 from the banned Awami League. Out of 832 incidents of political violence, 675 (81.2%) involved BNP's internal feuds or clashes between the party and others. Additionally, more than 5,246 political activists and general people were attacked.

On the other hand, 13 people were killed and 2,578 were injured in 396 incidents of violence centered on the 13th National Parliamentary Election. During the pre-election and post-election periods, more than 600 businesses, homes, and election offices were subjected to attacks, vandalism, looting, and arson.

In the last six months, at least 144 cases have been filed under various anti-terrorism laws regarding violence between former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League, and BNP-Jamaat activists. In these cases, 24,518 unidentified people have been accused along with 3,268 named individuals.

In the first six months of this year, 1,621 women and girls were subjected to violence, which is about 56 percent more than the same period last year (1,042). Among the women and children who were victims of violence, 404 were raped, of which 59 percent (238) were children and adolescents under 18 years of age. 88 were victims of gang rape and 17 were killed after rape.

Besides, 19 people were killed and 8 injured due to dowry. 320 women were killed and 211 injured due to family violence. 147 women committed suicide due to being unable to bear torture.

Law enforcement agencies directly or indirectly obstructed the organization of 40 meetings and rallies in the last six months. In these, 311 people were injured and 38 were detained. During this time, 81 people were accused and 44 were arrested in 30 cases under the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.

During the same period, 383 journalists were subjected to torture and harassment in 200 incidents. Among them, 234 were injured, 60 humiliated, 49 threatened, and 11 journalists detained.

There were 56 people injured in 50 attacks on minority communities. During this time, there were attacks and vandalism on 19 temples, 15 idols, and 43 homes.

In 32 incidents at the India-Bangladesh border, 9 people were killed and 35 injured (14 shot) due to BSF attacks. On the other hand, in 20 violent incidents at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, 1 person was killed and 10 were injured, including 5 shot.

Eleven people died in incidents involving custody, torture, firing, and alleged "gunfights" by law enforcement agencies. Additionally, at least 58 prisoners died in various prisons across the country in the first six months. Among the deceased, 15 were from the Awami League and its affiliate organizations, 1 from the BNP, and 42 were general prisoners.