Mob violence claimed at least 32 lives across Bangladesh in May 2025, while 53 unidentified bodies were recovered from rivers, roadsides, railway tracks, and agricultural fields, according to findings released by the Dhaka-based human rights organisation Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF). The data, cited by local media, signals a sharp and sustained deterioration in public safety and the rule of law.

Key Developments

The MSF report, released on Sunday, 1 June, documented at least 69 separate incidents of mob violence in May, in which 71 people were critically injured. This marks a notable escalation from April, when 21 deaths and 49 injuries were recorded.

A month-by-month breakdown reveals a worsening trend: 10 deaths in December 2025, 21 in January, 18 in February, 19 in March, 21 in April, and now 32 in May — a near-tripling since the year began.

Breakdown of Mob Deaths

Of the 32 people killed in mob violence in May, 14 died over allegations of theft, four following altercations, and two each over allegations of robbery and rape or sexual assault. At least 35 injured individuals were handed over to police, while mobs also reportedly targeted members of law enforcement.

'The number of people killed in mob violence rose from 21 to 32 in May, reflecting a clear rise in the tendency of people to take the law into their own hands,' MSF said in its report.

Unidentified Bodies and Custody Deaths

The recovery of 53 unidentified bodies during the period raised additional alarm. MSF noted that the persistent discovery of such bodies points to a potential failure in criminal investigation and raises concerns about unresolved crimes and possible extrajudicial killings. Deaths in custody also rose, from 6 to 7, during the same period.

Violence Against Women, Children, and Journalists

The report documented a worsening pattern of violence against women and children, with at least 326 incidents recorded in May — 12 more than in April. Rape cases rose by 40 per cent to 70, gang-rape cases reached 16, and cases involving rape followed by murder climbed to 6 from 2 in April.

Press freedom also came under pressure: 34 incidents of violence against journalists were documented in May, with cases of legal harassment rising from 8 to 13. The MSF described this as evidence of consistent 'structural pressure on freedom of expression.'

The report also cited the obstruction of a screening of the film 'Banalata Express' in Brahmanbaria district as a clear violation of the rule of law and an example of what it termed growing mob culture.

With violence indices rising across nearly every category, rights groups are calling on Bangladesh's authorities to urgently restore institutional accountability and curb the spread of vigilante justice before the situation deteriorates further.