The day after the BNP formed the government, newly appointed Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed declared, “Mob culture is over.”
His statement was made in the backdrop of incidents of mob violence that took place during the 18-month tenure of the interim government. He was talking about the end of those events.
Salahuddin Ahmed had given his statement on 18 February. Within two months, last Friday, a mob was formed in Shahbag in the capital, where men and women sharing some holiday were branded ‘gay’ or ‘transgender’ and attacked. The next day, a mob was formed, which led to a murder in Kushtia.
In Daulatpur upazila of this district, Shamim Raza, known locally as a Pir, was attacked and killed in his temple. An old video was brought out to accuse him of blasphemy, which led to the attack.
The Kushtia incident has again brought the issue of mob violence into focus.
Experts say such incidents are happening again due to lack of justice for past incidents. If strict steps are not taken immediately, such violence will continue to increase.
Writer and teacher Anu Muhammad told Prothom Alo that the recurrence of such incidents is due to the lack of justice for past incidents. The government should investigate past mob attacks, publish a white paper and take action. If these incidents are ignored, it will appear as if the government supports them.