France-based rights group JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the persistent organised mob violence in Bangladesh under Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
Government-backed groups and affiliated gangs have normalised violence across the country. Despite this alarming situation, the government remains indifferent, failing to take effective measures or legal action against perpetrators, the JMBF said in a statement on July 9.
The rights body believes this inaction flagrantly violates the Constitution of Bangladesh and fundamental human rights as recognised by the United Nations.
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They called on human rights organisations, the international community, and conscientious individuals worldwide to unite against this cruelty as Bangladesh faces a critical crossroads in its pursuit of democracy and human dignity.
Reports from various newspapers reveal that from September last year to June 2025, in just ten months, 174 citizens were killed and 309 seriously injured due to organised violence. From January to June 2025 alone, 62 were killed and 206 were injured. In June alone, 10 were killed and 47 injured in 41 separate incidents.
โThese devastating figures reflect a grave failure and a shameful example of misgovernance in a civilised state.โ
JMBFโs observations indicate that perpetrators frequently target individuals or groups with politically charged accusations, such as labelling victims โAwami League collaborators.โ Motivated by land grabbing, seizures of property and businesses, extortion, or personal enmity, these acts occur systematically under the silence and patronage of the state.
The statement said that instead of curbing such violence, the government led by Muhammad Yunus has sought to dismiss โorganised violenceโ as merely a political โAwami narrative.โ This stance not only encourages lawlessness but also implicates the government as a direct or indirect accomplice.
Robert Simon, renowned French human rights activist and JMBFโs chief advisor, stated: โThe ongoing organised violence and state-sponsored human rights violations in Bangladesh are profoundly troubling for the international human rights community. It pains me that a nation responsible for protecting its citizens instead endangers their lives for political gain. JMBF stands with the victims and calls for immediate international intervention.โ
Advocate Shahanur Islam, human rights lawyer and founding president of JMBF, said: โOur long fight against organised violence, impunity, and state-sponsored crimes in Bangladesh has reached a critical juncture. Silence from the state amounts to legitimising these crimes, which can only be stopped through robust international action and legal accountability. We urge the International Criminal Court, the UN Human Rights Council, and all relevant bodies to declare this a โcrisis of impunityโ and act without delay.โ
Demands of JMBF
-Establish an international independent investigation committee: To ensure justice, an impartial UN-supervised body must investigate each case, interview victims, and identify perpetrators, overcoming the persistent obstruction or silence by local authorities and politically influenced groups.
-Provide adequate compensation, medical care, and protection for victimsโ families: Families of those killed or seriously injured must receive emergency and long-term physical and mental health care, fair financial compensation, and legal support. Victims often face further violence or social ostracism; they must be included in government protection and rehabilitation programs.
-Urgent intervention by the UN and international human rights organisations: The governmentโs indifference and security forcesโ silence fuel organised violence. Direct oversight and action by bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch are vital to halt the violence and restore safety.
-Hold the current government politically accountable and initiate international judicial proceedings: The interim governmentโs silence or complicity in human rights violations constitutes state-sponsored crime. Accountability and trials must begin at the International Criminal Court or other international tribunals.
-National and international media must actively expose ongoing violence and government failures. Media coverage in Bangladesh is often suppressed. National and international outlets should investigate, report, and raise awareness, while citizen journalism and social media must amplify the truth.
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