"Is this the world we created?

We made it on our own

Is this the world we devasted, right to the bone?"

The lyrics of (British rock band) Queen ’s haunting ballad echo with eerie relevance as Bangladesh finds itself gripped by a wave of mob lynching that threatens to unravel the fabric of its society. In recent weeks, brutal killings at Rajshahi University, Dhaka University, and Jahangirnagar University have laid bare the cracks in the country’s legal system, exposing a chilling breakdown of law and order. What is even more tragic is that students who once led the fight for justice and change against authoritarianism are now turning into vigilantes, taking the law into their own hands and imposing punishment with ruthless authority. The interim government that emerged after the fall of Hasina regime carried the promise of a new era—one in which safety, justice, and equality would reign. Yet, the country is now witnessing a rapid descent into mob violence, eroding the very values that once inspired the struggle for a fairer and more just society. If this is the Bangladesh they fought for, it starkly contrasts with the one they envisioned.

At the heart of this issue lies the gross violation of the right to life and due process, universally recognised as inviolable. The natural rights theory, which asserts that every individual is born with inherent rights, including life and liberty, is trampled upon by these mobs. A former student leader at Jahangirnagar University was beaten to death by students, even after being saved by security personnel. In another gruesome case, a mentally disabled man, falsely accused of theft, was savagely killed by some students of Dhaka University after they mockingly offered him food in a sickening display of cruelty. These cases highlight how a nation's supposed future leaders are engaging in barbarism, demonstrating a complete disregard for human dignity. While these acts have raised deep concerns, the response from legal authorities has been slow and ineffective, leading to a broader sense of disillusionment.

Mob rule

Today Bangladesh stands at a pivotal decisive point in its social contract, where unchecked mob violence threatens to erode public trust in the interim government's ability to maintain law and order. Born from a rebellion against injustice, the interim government was expected to restore this social contract, providing a sense of safety and protection to all citizens. A government's legitimacy depends on its capacity to ensure security, and no amount of progress or development can compensate for a crumbling justice system. As crime, violence, and mob lynching become widespread, the public becomes trapped in frustration, unable to envision a progressive future. True development requires a secure environment where educational institutions foster learning, innovation, and ethics. When students and researchers engage in violence, it disrupts their education and hinders national progress. The loss of security risks stifling young individuals crucial to the nation's future. A troubling issue is that many students witnessed the violence but remained passive. This stems from the bystander effect, where people refrain from acting in the presence of others, and pluralistic ignorance, assuming no action is needed if no one else reacts. But we must remember that both those who endure injustice and those who commit it share equal guilt.

Legal pluralism sheds light on the rise of mob justice, often filling the gap when formal legal systems fail to meet public needs. While informal systems like community justice can offer accessible solutions, in Bangladesh, this is devolving into lawlessness, where the state's weakened legal framework allows mobs to act as unregulated forces of violence. The government's failure to assert authority emboldens these mobs, as if violence, not due legal process, determined justice. This shift tarnishes Bangladesh's image and undermines human rights, pushing the vision of a just society farther away. Johan Galtung’s theory of structural violence explains why the most vulnerable, often denied basic needs like justice, are frequent targets. A tragic example is the lynching of a mentally disabled civilian at Dhaka University, reflecting both a failure of justice and the deep social inequities that leave the poor defenceless.

These killings are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deeper erosion of human rights, justice, and societal values. If the government fails to act swiftly and decisively to stop the rise of mob justice and restore trust in the legal system, the nation may descend into unchecked violence and chaos. The student-led uprising demanded fairness, equality, and dignity, and without the interim government upholding these ideals, their sacrifices would go in vain. Accountability must be restored, the justice system reformed, and the rule of law upheld. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' The choice between justice and mob rule is before us, and the vision of a fair society must not be abandoned.

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The writer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at IUBAT and currently on study leave pursuing a Masters in Human Rights and Multiculturalism at University of South Eastern Norway