Bangladesh is witnessing a troubling surge in mob violence, which, according to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is actively threatening to divide the nation. He emphasised that exploiting crisis situations to incite unrest and spread violence is fundamentally incompatible with the principles of a democratic society. Such actions, he warned, seriously undermine social harmony, the rule of law, and political stability across the country.
On Friday, 19 December, the BNP’s verified Facebook page released a photo card highlighting Fakhrul’s statement. Earlier, in a separate message, he issued a strong condemnation of mob violence, stating, “Those who wait to exploit moments of national crisis are enemies of this country. They anticipate disasters for their own agendas. I vehemently oppose this mob terror.”
Fakhrul’s comments come in the aftermath of violence following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Munch. Hadi, who had been critically wounded in a shooting incident during his electoral campaign for the upcoming Dhaka-8 parliamentary seat, passed away in Singapore late on Thursday night. News of his death triggered anger among protesters, some of whom engaged in vandalism and arson across the country. Reports indicate that two media offices were also attacked, raising serious concern among journalists and civil society.
The Inquilab Munch has announced via its Facebook page that Hadi’s body is expected to arrive in Dhaka this evening. It will be placed at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University for public homage.
According to law enforcement sources, Faisal Karim Masud has been identified as the direct gunman in the attack, with Alomgir Sheikh serving as the motorcycle driver assisting him. Both suspects have reportedly fled to India illegally. To date, the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have detained fourteen individuals in connection with the incident.
Experts argue that addressing political violence and mob terror requires strict legal enforcement and a responsible approach from political parties. Failure to do so, they caution, could further fracture the nation and weaken democratic processes, threatening the country’s social cohesion and stability.