Mob killings nearly double in six months: BCRS

 
Mob violence claimed 135 lives in the first six months of 2026, nearly double the toll during the same period last year, as the Bangladesh Civil Rights Society (BCRS) warned of a deteriorating human rights situation marked by rising political violence, attacks on women, journalists and minorities.

According to the rights body's Human Rights Situation Monitoring Report (January-June 2026), released on Saturday, 135 people were killed and 256 injured in 263 incidents of mob violence, compared with 67 deaths and 119 injuries in 141 incidents during the corresponding period of 2025.

The report, prepared using media reports, field information and fact-finding investigations, said the overall human rights situation could worsen further unless authorities address political and electoral violence, mob attacks, deaths in custody and prisons, violence against women and children, harassment of journalists, and restrictions on freedom of expression.

BCRS Executive Director Sheikh Mohammad Tajul Islam said growing political tensions and unchecked violence continue to threaten the country's human rights environment.

The report recorded 58 deaths in political and electoral violence during the six-month period. Of them, 39 were BNP activists, six belonged to Jamaat-e-Islami and three to the banned Awami League.

It documented 832 incidents of political violence, with 675 involving clashes between the BNP and other political parties, leaving more than 5,246 leaders, activists and civilians injured or attacked.

Violence surrounding the 13th National Parliament election resulted in 13 deaths and 2,578 injuries in 396 incidents, while more than 600 houses, businesses and election offices were vandalised, looted or set on fire.

The report also said 144 cases were filed under anti-terrorism and violence-related laws involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leaders and activists of the Awami League and the BNP-Jamaat alliance. A total of 3,268 people were named as accused, while 24,518 others were listed as unidentified accused.

Violence against women and girls also increased significantly, with 1,621 victims, up from 1,042 during the same period last year. Among them, 404 women and girls were raped, including 238 children, while 88 were gang-raped and 17 were killed after rape.

The report also recorded 19 dowry-related deaths, 320 deaths from domestic violence, 211 injuries and 147 suicides linked to abuse.