Dhaka, February 1 – Violence in Bangladesh has sharply increased, drawing international concern. Recently, Indian intelligence agencies warned that the level of violence is likely to rise further as the national elections approach. January witnessed a significant surge in mob violence, with deaths due to public beatings more than doubling compared to the previous month.
Deaths in custody also saw a notable rise. With the national elections looming, the current law and order situation and the overall state of human rights in the country have become a matter of serious concern.
According to the monthly monitoring report released by the Human Rights Cultural Foundation (MSF), at least 21 people died due to mob attacks in January, up from 10 deaths reported in December 2025. The report, issued on Saturday, described the human rights situation in January as dangerously violent and complex.
The report highlighted that lack of firm and transparent government action against mob violence has encouraged a trend of impunity. MSF noted that according to The Daily Star, this has emboldened criminals and eroded public trust in the justice system.
These incidents indicate a clear decline in public confidence in the rule of law. Apart from mob killings, the number of unidentified bodies found across the country also rose, with 57 bodies discovered in January compared to 48 in December.
Deaths in custody remain a critical issue. The number of prisoners dying in jail custody increased to 15 in January from nine in December. Additionally, two deaths occurred while individuals were in the custody of law enforcement agencies.
MSF attributed these deaths to medical negligence, inhumane conditions, and systemic deficiencies in jail management. With the 13th national elections approaching, the report observed a rise in election-related violence.
Political clashes during January resulted in four deaths and 509 injuries, a sharp increase from December when only one election-related death was recorded.
Another worrying trend noted in the report is the rising use of unidentified individuals as accused in police cases. The number of such unknown persons listed in political cases increased from 110 in December to 320 in January. Human rights advocates argue that this practice leads to mass arrests and creates fear among the public.
MSF also reported a serious decline in the safety of women and children. In January alone, 257 cases of violence against women and children were recorded, including 34 rapes and 11 gang rapes. Attacks on minority communities also surged, with incidents of theft, vandalism, and damage to temples and statues rising to 21 in January from six in December.
The foundation called for immediate, unbiased investigations into all violations and urged authorities to ensure the protection of all citizens to restore trust in the justice system.
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