Bangladesh recorded a rise in mob violence deaths, gang rape incidents and attacks on minority communities in October, according to rights body Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation. Another report documented thousands of child and adolescent arrests and detentions across the country.
Bangladesh witnessed an increase in deaths from mob violence, gang-rape incidents and attacks on minority communities during October, according to a monthly monitoring report published by human rights organisation Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF). The report also highlighted growing concerns over violence against women and children, factional political clashes and attacks on religious institutions.
According to the report, 32 people were killed in mob violence in October, compared with 23 in September. Gang-rape incidents also increased significantly, rising from 12 in September to 21 in October, representing a 75 per cent increase.
The incidents of mob violence were reportedly linked to verbal altercations, allegations of theft, extortion, land disputes, drug-related disagreements and mugging. The findings were reported by Bangladesh-based newspaper The Daily Star, citing MSF’s monthly monitoring report.
The report further revealed that overall incidents of violence against women and children increased from 354 to 357 during the reporting period. Cases of sexual harassment and abuse also witnessed a rise, increasing from 16 to 25.
As many as 84 women and children lost their lives during October, including 20 children and adolescents, according to the rights organisation. Sexual abuse cases involving boys increased from seven to 10, while incidents of illegal arbitration over criminal matters rose from one to six.
MSF also reported that six newborn babies were found abandoned during the month. Five of them were rescued alive, according to the report.
The situation involving minority communities also raised serious concerns. Incidents of vandalism and theft targeting places of worship belonging to minority communities increased from 10 in September to 35 in October.
The organisation additionally recorded attacks and vandalism targeting minority households in Rangpur and Pirojpur. Several people were reportedly injured in attacks on markets in Brahmanbaria and Kushtia.
Political violence also remained a concern. According to MSF, deaths resulting from factional clashes involving supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League increased from one to five.
The report further recorded nine deaths in attacks allegedly carried out by unidentified assailants. The number of unidentified bodies recovered during October increased to 73 from 71 in September. Meanwhile, the number of bodies recovered after initial identification declined from 14 to four.
However, some categories of violence showed a decline. Attacks and harassment involving journalists decreased from 28 to 23. Cases of legal harassment also fell from nine to one, while cases registered under cyber-related laws declined from eight to two.
Separately, another human rights organisation, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), raised concerns over the arrest and detention of children and adolescents across Bangladesh.
In a monitoring report published on October 26, JMBF documented that at least 2,774 children and adolescents had been arrested or detained across the country within a month. The organisation warned that the actual number could be higher because several incidents might have remained undocumented or had not reached its monitoring network.
The report covered 12 incidents and a series of operations conducted across four administrative divisions and eight districts between September 23 and October 22.
According to the findings, Cumilla recorded the highest district-level figure, with 2,035 children and adolescents reportedly arrested or detained.
At the divisional level, Chattogram accounted for the highest number, with 2,418 cases. Sylhet recorded 300 cases, followed by Rajshahi with 50 and Barishal with six.
The monthly figures included 2,173 children and adolescents arrested or detained between September 23 and September 30, while another 601 cases were documented between October 1 and October 22.
| Also Read: Digi Yatra International Passenger Trials Begin at 7 Indian Airports |
JMBF cautioned that the figures represented only documented cases and might not reflect the complete situation across Bangladesh. It said unreported incidents and gaps in monitoring could mean that the actual number of affected children and adolescents was higher.
The findings from both organisations have drawn attention to continuing concerns over public safety, violence against women and children, minority rights, political clashes and the treatment of young people in Bangladesh. The reports underline the importance of stronger protection mechanisms, accountability and effective enforcement of human rights safeguards across the country.
