Mob violence claimed at least 197 lives across Bangladesh in 2025, up from 128 deaths in 2024, according to the Human Rights Report 2025 by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading human rights organization.
Since the start of the interim government period, at least 293 people have been killed in mob attacks, the report said, which was released through a press statement on Wednesday.
ASK cited a brutal incident in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila on August 9, when two men-Rupal Das, 40, a cobbler, and Pradip Das, 35, a van driver-were beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of van theft. Victims were killed without evidence, investigation, or legal process, often driven by rumours and suspicion. The report also accused police of inaction, noting that officers present at the scene left as the mob grew.
The organization documented 107 deaths in custody in 2025, including 69 under-trial prisoners, with Dhaka Central Jail alone accounting for 38 deaths. Several cases raised serious concerns about medical negligence and treatment of detainees.
Additionally, 38 extrajudicial killings occurred, carried out in the name of 'crossfire' or during custody, reflecting continued use of lethal force outside judicial processes.
Political violence remained significant, with 401 incidents leaving 102 people dead and nearly 4,744 injured, largely stemming from internal conflicts within political parties. Journalists faced escalating repression, with 381 recorded cases of violence, threats, harassment, and legal action; three journalists were killed, and several others died under mysterious circumstances. A major attack on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star on December 18 was described as one of the gravest assaults on media freedom in Bangladesh's history.
