AR . Salauddin Ferdous

Recently, a horrific culture called ‘mob justice’ has spread in Bangladesh, where agitated mobs take on the role of judges and kill, beat or humiliate specific individuals. This is not a trial but a barbaric process of trampling the rule of law. This barbarity is happening from university campuses to rural areas, which is indicative of a deep crisis for our society.

The concept of mob justice is not new. Humanity has witnessed such incidents many times in history. In Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar', an agitated mob mistakenly kills an innocent poet just because his name is similar. In Bangladesh, this culture originally started with the mob lynching of thieves and robbers, but now it has taken the form of political revenge or personal hatred.

Several factors have fueled the rise of this violent culture. The delay and ineffectiveness of the judicial process are among them – which makes people impatient. So, people now want to judge themselves. Moreover, some groups deliberately incite this anarchy in the hope of gaining political benefits so that they can seize power or suppress opponents using the unrest. On the other hand, misleading or one-sided news that goes viral on Facebook or other platforms quickly excites the public, which further provokes mob justice.

The consequences of mob justice are very terrible. It leads to the death of many innocent people. For example, the beating to death of Tafazzal on suspicion of mobile theft at Dhaka University can be mentioned. Moreover, when the public takes justice into their own hands, the very existence of the state comes into question. This leads to an anarchic society. On the other hand, the image of the country is also tarnished internationally, which is harmful to investment and the tourism industry.

To prevent this barbaric culture, multifaceted steps must be taken. 1. Those who take part in mob justice must be quickly arrested and given strong punishment. The police and administration need to be more active. 2. People must be convinced through the media, educational institutions and religious leaders that taking the law into one's own hands is not a solution. 3. Speedy and transparent trials must be ensured so that people can have faith in the courts. 4. Political leaders must be aware of keeping their followers in check and not spreading violence.

Mob justice is not justice—it is a brutal culture that leads society to destruction. To stop it, the government, administration, media and common citizens need to make a concerted effort. The rule of law is the only beacon where the pure light of justice can reach the doorsteps of every person. The heated anger of the crowd can create a momentary fire, but it only shows the way to destruction; the cool touch of justice remains elusive there. So, let's say no to mob justice.

The writer is a young columnist, student at the Department of Statistics,Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh.