28 killed, 62 injured in mob violence in August: HRSS Report

At least 28 people were killed and 62 others injured in 53 incidents of mob violence and lynching across the country in August, according to a press release issued by the human rights organisation Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) on Thursday, September 3.

The incidents occurred over allegations including theft, robbery, snatching, verbal altercations, dominance assertion, and religious sentiment violations, said HRSS Executive Director Ijajul Islam.

The report also documented 70 incidents of political violence in August, leaving seven dead and 536 injured. Among the political violence, 20 incidents of intra-BNP conflict resulted in 152 injuries and five deaths. Eighteen clashes between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami left 233 injured and one dead, while seven clashes between BNP and Awami League caused 26 injuries and one death. Six clashes between BNP and the National Citizen Party resulted in 16 injuries, and 10 clashes between BNP and other parties injured 38 people. Of the seven people killed in political violence, five were BNP members, one was from Awami League, and one from Jamaat.

At least 13 campus-related clashes among student organisations injured 216 people, including 181 injured in eight clashes between Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir, and 35 injured in five clashes involving Chhatra Dal, other student groups and general students.

The report attributed most violence to dominance assertion, political rivalry, intra-party conflict, and extortion, alongside separate attacks, shootings, and incidents of vandalism and arson in several districts. At least four attacks by unidentified criminals left two political activists dead and three injured, while 12 political activists were shot.

At least 19 incidents of dominance assertion, land grabbing, political violence and extortion led to clashes, attacks, looting, vandalism and arson targeting over 50 homes, businesses and party offices. Tensions surrounding upcoming local government elections also resulted in at least nine injuries in clashes in Kushtia and Satkhira.

Regarding legal cases, the HRSS report stated that over 62 cases were filed against political activists of various parties in August, naming 1,125 individuals and around 2,209 unnamed suspects. A total of 12,823 people were arrested in 162 incidents, including 429 Awami League activists, 22 from BNP, four from Jamaat, nine from NCP, and five from extremist organisations.

Journalist attacks were also documented, with at least 45 journalists subjected to harassment, including 26 injured, six humiliated, seven threatened, five detained, one charged in a case over news publication, and one charged under the Cyber Security Act 2026.

Freedom of assembly and expression saw significant interference, with law enforcement directly or indirectly obstructing 13 meetings and rallies, resulting in 61 injuries and eight detentions. At least 10 people were detained in eight incidents for expressing opinions, including two for criticising the Prime Minister, one for creating political content, two for alleged religious sentiment violations, and six for other issues. Four separate cases were filed under the Cyber Security Act 2026 against five people.

The HRSS report also noted that at least six people died in prison custody in August, including one convict and five undertrial prisoners. Among them, one was an Awami League member and five were general prisoners.

Concerns were raised over bodies found in rivers, canals, forests and abandoned places. A total of 87 bodies were recovered from 82 such incidents, including 12 found in sacks, 17 hanging, 26 with multiple injuries, nine with throats slit, and eight with hands and feet tied.

On the border front, two people were killed and one injured in eight incidents of BSF attacks along the Bangladesh-India border. Five were detained, while five were pushed in and 18 were attempted to be pushed in through various border points. Along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, one Bangladeshi youth was killed in a landmine explosion and one injured, while three were detained from the water territory.

Labour rights violations were also highlighted, with 19 workers killed and at least 67 injured in 84 incidents of labour abuse. Unhealthy working conditions and lack of safety equipment led to the deaths of at least 63 workers in workplace accidents. Two domestic workers died and one was tortured in separate incidents.

Violence against women and children remained high. At least 249 women and girls were victims of abuse, including 79 rape victims (46 of whom were under 18), 18 gang-rape victims, 93 sexually harassed (including 38 children), six killed and seven injured over dowry, with one committing suicide. Domestic violence killed 49 women, injured 31, and drove 23 to suicide. Additionally, 282 children faced abuse, including 77 fatalities and 205 survivors of physical and mental abuse.

IJajul Islam expressed concern that the human rights situation in Bangladesh has crossed a critical phase. He noted the alarming trends in political violence, campus clashes, mob lynching, restrictions on free expression, journalist attacks, violence against women and children, border violence, and labour abuse. He highlighted renewed concerns over arrests and legal actions related to opinions expressed on social media, warning that the human rights situation could further deteriorate without addressing these issues.