The High Court has issued a rule asking the government to explain why its failure to prevent and control mob killings and mass beatings across the country should not be declared illegal.
The court also sought an explanation from the authorities on why they should not be directed to take effective legal measures to prevent mob violence in the future.
The rule was issued on Monday by a bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan, following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).
The HC bench additionally asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to pay Tk 10 crore in compensation to the families of two victims killed in a mob attack in Rangpur.
The victims, Ruplal Das, 40, of Ghanirampur, and his son-in-law Pradeep Das, 35, were beaten to death by a mob at Burihat Bottala in Taraganj upazila in August 2025 over allegations of van theft.
The respondents named in the rule include the secretaries of the home, law, and education ministries, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of Rapid Action Battalion, the Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Rangpur, the Officer-in-Charge of Taraganj Police Station, and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Taraganj. They have been given four weeks to reply to the HC.
Lawyer Shahinuzzaman Shahin appeared on behalf of Ain O Salish Kendra during the court proceedings.
