Chief Prosecutor Tajul urges caution in using the term ‘mob’

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has urged caution in the use of the term ‘mob’. He made the remarks on Friday while speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law” held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

Tajul Islam said the use of the word ‘mob’ reflects a mindset aimed at questioning the legitimacy of the revolution, and therefore, its usage should be approached with awareness.

Judicial independence, social and political pressure, and the issue of ‘mob’ were the main focus of discussion at the dialogue. Tajul said the movement that led to the fall of Ganabhaban should not be conflated with criminal activities. He added that repeatedly using the term ‘mob’ in connection with the achievements of the Ganabhaban movement to cast doubt on the revolutionaries should be restrained.

Following his remarks, former general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Ruhin Hossain Prince and general secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh Bazlur Rashid Firoz described the comments as a political threat. BNP leader Nilufar Chowdhury also criticised Tajul’s statement.

Other speakers at the dialogue said that ‘mobocracy’ is currently prevailing, trials are being conducted on social media, and the rule of law is not being effectively enforced in reality.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary said that ‘mob’ influence is now affecting the government, the Election Commission, and various institutions of the country.

Dialogue moderator Zillur Rahman said that although some influential figures in the government had previously viewed mobs as pressure groups, their stance has recently changed. He warned that caution is necessary to prevent potential incidents or accidents.