Details

Created: 10 September 2024

By Delwar Jahid

Mob justice, or vigilantism, refers to instances where groups of people take the law into their own hands to punish those accused of crimes, bypassing legal procedures and due process. In Bangladesh, this practice has become increasingly concerning, particularly since the student-led protests in August 2024. These protests have drawn widespread attention to issues of security, governance, and public accountability.

This phenomenon is not new. In August 2018, a movement led by students, triggered by the death of two students in a road accident in Dhaka, saw thousands take to the streets to demand safer roads and better enforcement of traffic laws. While these protests were largely peaceful, they highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the rule of law in Bangladesh and revealed deep frustrations over corruption and a perceived lack of accountability among those in power.

Following these protests, there was a notable increase in reported incidents of mob justice across the country. Many citizens, disillusioned with the legal system, began to take matters into their own hands, believing that justice would not be served through official channels.

The Perceived Effectiveness of Mob Justice

Proponents of mob justice argue that it acts as a deterrent to crime, particularly in communities where law enforcement is seen as weak or corrupt. When there is a lack of trust in the police or the justice system, people may feel compelled to take justice into their own hands, believing this instant form of punishment to be more effective than the slow and often inefficient legal system.

The Negative Consequences of Mob Justice

However, the consequences of mob justice are overwhelmingly negative. It often leads to unjust punishment and retaliatory violence, sometimes resulting in the death of innocent people. Decisions are made in the heat of the moment, without proper investigation or evidence, denying the accused the opportunity to defend themselves and leading to miscarriages of justice.

Mob justice perpetuates a cycle of violence and fosters an environment of fear and insecurity. It undermines the rule of law, weakens institutions meant to uphold justice, and often exacerbates conflict, leading to greater social unrest.

A Case in Point: The Death of Abdullah Al Masood

A recent example illustrates the dangers of mob justice. Two days after the death of Abdullah Al Masood, a former leader of the Rajshahi University Chhatra League, no case had been filed regarding the attack that led to his death. On September 7, Masood, aged 31, was attacked near Rajshahi University and handed over to the police with serious injuries. He died later in the hospital. Despite a video showing Masood speaking after the attack, no witnesses have come forward, and the police have yet to receive a formal complaint from his family. Masood's family expressed concerns about legal action due to fears of reprisal. The Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University stated that the university was considering filing a case on the family's behalf. Masood, who became a father just days before his death, had previously been attacked in 2014, losing a leg and suffering serious injuries. His family remains in shock and fears they may never see justice. (Source: Prothom Alo, September 9, 2024)

The Need for Police Reform

In response to the growing concerns over mob justice and law enforcement's ineffectiveness, the Home Affairs Advisor recently informed the UNDP resident representative that a committee would soon be formed to outline the approach, process, and leadership for police reform. UNDP representative Stephen Lilal emphasized the importance of these reforms to build public confidence, reduce criticism of the police, and offered technical and financial support for the process. (Source: Daily Our Time, September 9, 2024)

Despite these promises of reform, the interim government has failed to protect minority communities, opposition party members, and even law enforcement officials themselves. Under the watchful eyes of law enforcement agencies, police stations have been looted, police officers killed, and government assets plundered, all while acts of vandalism have been disguised under the garb of military action.

Conclusion

While mob justice may seem like a quick solution to perceived crimes, history shows that it is ultimately ineffective and dangerous. It undermines the rule of law, perpetuates violence, and often leads to the wrongful punishment of innocent individuals. To effectively combat crime, Bangladesh must strengthen its legal and judicial institutions, improve law enforcement, and address the root causes of public distrust in the justice system. Only by doing so can the country build a more just and equitable society where all citizens feel secure and confident in the rule of law.

Author: Delwar Jahid, President of the Bangladesh North American Journalists Network, researcher, and analyst on human rights and law.

Details

Created: 15 April 2017

DHAKA, April 15, 2017 (BSS) - Thousands of people thronged the streets and different popular places in the capital and elsewhere across the country as the nation yesterday celebrated its most colourful and traditional festival Pahela Baishakh to welcome the Bangla New Year 1424. 

Cultural and musical groups started off the first day of the Bangla year with songs and other performances at city parks while students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University and youngsters brought out a "Mongol Shobhajatra" (procession of good wishes) in the morning as part of the carnival. 

The day broke with the chirping of birds as usual, but the singing of "Esho hey Baishakh esho esho" everywhere in Bangladesh gave the day really a festive dimension. 

Men in traditional pajamas and 'punjabi' and women in white and red saris joined the celebrations along with children in colourful attires, streaming through Dhaka streets as the first light of the sun rang in Bangla New Year.

National dailies have brought out colourful supplements while state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes to mark the occasion. Festive mood gripped all major cities and towns with different programmes of cultural groups.

Ramna Batamul appeared as the main attraction of the New Year celebrations as "Chhayanaut" and other cultural groups have been staging traditional functions since morning. 

The day was a public holiday. 

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. 

They wished peace, happiness and prosperity of the people and the country in the New Year. 

The traditional Mangol Shovajartas (processions of good wishes) were also brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to grassroots as it earned the UNESCO recognition.

However, business communities, especially in the rural areas opened their traditional 'Halkhata', new account books to mark the day. 

Important buildings and establishments as well as city streets and islands were illuminated with colourful lights and graffiti were painted in the walls signifying the arts, culture and heritage of the country. 

Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised solo and chorus folk music, dance and recitation of poems at Mirpur, Dania, Rayerbazar and different places in the capital city in the afternoon. 

Bangla Academy staged cultural function and solo lecture at Rabindra-Chattar on the premises of the academy since 7.30am while a 10-day book-fair titled "Boier Arang" began marking the festival.

Besides, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation and Bangla Academy organizesd a 10-day Baishakhi Fair on the academy premises. 

Dhakeswai National Temple also organized fair while Jatiya Press Club arranged a variety of traditional food items for the members and their family on the club premises. Dhaka Reporters' Unity also arranged identical programme. 

Intensified security measure was ensured across the country including capital Dhaka to avert any untoward incident on Pahela Baishakh celebration. 

Ramna Park and Suhrawardi Udyan areas have been taken under complete CCTV surveillance while Police in uniform and in undercover were deployed in and around the function arenas including Ramna Park. Visitors entered the venue through archways and metal detector checking, witnesses said.

Watchtowers have been installed in all the important places to monitor the movement of people while DMP also supplied pure drinking water to citizens and organized blood donation camp.

The local administrations arranged procession, cultural functions, village fairs and discussions at the divisional, district and upazilla levels on the occasion. 

Improved diets of Banglee food was distributed among the inmates of jails, hospitals and orphanages in the capital and elsewhere across the country. 

Cultural functions were also arranged at jails and orphanages across the country. 

Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Folk and Craft Arts Foundation, and archaeological sites under Department of Archaeology remained open for children, students and persons with disabilities to visit free of cost. 

All educational institutions of the country including Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jahangirnagar universities also celebrated the day separately with enthusiasm and traditional gaiety. 

Reports reaching here said Pahela Baishakh was also celebrated in Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, Jhalokathi, Rangpur, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Mymensingh, Habiganj, Magura, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Rangamati, Bagerhat, Kurigram, Kushtia, Joypurhat, Panchagarh, Khagrachhari, Laxmipur, Moulvibazar, Natore, Narail, Shariatpur and other districts amid huge enthusiasm. 

According to historical records, celebrations of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla Calendar Year, started from Emperor Akbar's reign when it was customary to clear all dues on the last day of the Bengali month of Chaitra with businessmen opening "halkhata" or new book of accounts in their shops. 

In line with the tradition, the rural Bangladesh, with people thoroughly scrubbing and cleaning the homes, bathing early in the morning and dressing in fine clothes, rises with a new hope on this day.

Details

Created: 26 February 2015

International Mother Language Day Celebration 2015 by BPCA