Labonnya Liza ; Dhaka – At least 32 people were killed in incidents of mob violence across Bangladesh in May 2026, marking the highest monthly casualty count in the last six months.
Additionally, at least 71 others were seriously injured in 69 separate incidents of mob vigilantism. The findings were revealed in a monthly human rights monitoring report released on Sunday by the Human Rights Support Foundation (Manabadhikar Shanskriti Foundation – MSF), signed by its founder president, Advocate Sultana Kamal.
The report highlighted a deeply concerning trend, noting that law enforcement officials are also increasingly becoming targets during these mob attacks.
The spike in fatalities from 21 in April to 32 in May, alongside an increase in injuries from 49 to 71, reflects a growing and alarming tendency among the public to take the law into their own hands.
According to MSF data, mob violence has seen a steady rise over the last half-year. In April, 21 people were killed and 49 injured. The death toll was 19 in March, 18 in February, 21 in January, and 10 in December 2025.
The human rights organization expressed deep concern over the persistent lack of public safety. A breakdown of the May statistics reveals the pretexts behind these fatal assaults:
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Theft accusations: 14 deaths
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Altered altercations/Arguments: 4 deaths
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Robbery allegations: 2 deaths
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Attempted rape/Sexual harassment: 2 deaths
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Murder accusations: 1 death
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Derogatory remarks: 1 death
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Snatching/Mugging: 1 death
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Drug smuggling: 1 death
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Other allegations: 6 deaths
The report added that at least 35 individuals injured in these incidents were later handed over to the police.
Alarming Rise in Violence Against Women and Children
A comparative analysis between April and May shows a distressing surge in violence against women and children, particularly rape. MSF documented 326 cases of violence against women and children in May, an increase of 12 cases from the previous month.
Rape cases spiked by nearly 40%, rising from 54 incidents in April to 70 in May. This includes 16 gang-rape incidents and 6 cases where victims were murdered after being raped (up from 2 such cases in April).
Political Violence and Custodial Deaths
On a relatively positive note, MSF observed slight improvements in certain areas, such as political violence. In May, 3 people were killed and 193 injured in political clashes, compared to 3 deaths and 303 injuries in April.
Meanwhile, prison fatalities remained stable, with 7 custodial deaths recorded in May, compared to 6 in April and 11 in March.