Mob violence and related human rights violations increased in April despite earlier assurances from the Home Minister to curb such incidents, according to a monthly report released by the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) on Thursday.
The organisation, which compiles findings from media reports and its own investigations, recorded a rise in mob-related killings, injuries and incidents compared to March.
According to the report, 21 people were killed in mob attacks or incidents of mass beating in April, up from 19 in March. The number of mob incidents rose to 49 from 36, while the number of injured increased to 49 from 31.
MSF Executive Director Saidur Rahman said, "The mob is a direct challenge to the state. The state and the mob cannot coexist."
Referring to the Home Minister's earlier statement, he said, "The Home Minister called for a full stop to mob violence, but in reality it has not stopped; rather, it has increased. The question is whether this reflects a lack of political will or incompetence."
He described mob violence as an expanding extrajudicial trend, adding that unidentified bodies continue to be recovered across the country. "This month, the bodies of one child, two teenagers, 12 women and 41 men were recovered from different parts of the country. Except for a few cases, most remain unidentified," he said.
According to MSF data, 53 unidentified bodies were recovered in March. Many are found in rivers, ponds, near highways, under bridges, beside railway lines, in croplands and in abandoned areas.
The report also highlighted a rise in violence against women and children, with 312 incidents recorded in April-23 more than in the previous month. These included 54 rape cases, 14 gang rapes and one rape followed by murder. Among the victims, six were persons with disabilities.
Of the rape victims, 18 were children and 14 were teenagers. In gang rape cases, one child, four teenagers and nine women were victims, while one teenager and one woman were raped and killed. The report also recorded 23 attempted rapes, 17 incidents of sexual harassment, 68 cases of physical assault and one acid attack.
Additionally, five teenagers and 21 women died by suicide during the month. Two children and two teenagers were abducted, while one teenager and nine women remain missing.
The report documented 89 killings involving children, teenagers and women in April, including the unnatural deaths of two teenagers and five women-an increase of 16 from March. Among the victims were 11 children and 12 teenagers.
MSF also noted that in two cases-one involving the attempted rape of a child and another involving the attempted rape of a woman-disputes were settled through local arbitration, bypassing formal legal procedures.
The Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, had announced on February 18 at the Secretariat that "mob culture" would be completely stopped. However, the April report indicates that such incidents have continued to rise despite that commitment.
