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Original ResearchOpen Access

“Mob Justice Post-2024 Regime Change in Bangladesh: A Critical Assessment of its Rise and Impact on Law Enforcement”

DOI: 10.18535/sshj.v10i02.2200· Pages: 9900-9910· Vol. 10, No. 02, (2026)· Published: February 16, 2026
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Abstract

Mob justice, an informal and extrajudicial practice executed by a collective group outside legal boundaries, remains a critical issue in post 2024 Bangladesh. Following the student led uprising that removed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, the nation observed a surge in collective violence marked by public distrust in state institutions and the formal justice system. This study conducts a qualitative assessment of mob justice within the transitional political climate, drawing upon peer reviewed literature, legal frameworks, and sociological analyses to interpret the underlying causes, patterns, and consequences of this phenomenon. By situating mob justice within the conceptual lens of the “Numb State,” where formal laws exist but institutional enforcement collapses, the research explores how declining public confidence, human rights abuses, slow judicial processes, and institutional voids have eroded the rule of law. The study further investigates the cascading impacts on policing credibility, procedural justice, and citizens’ psychological orientation toward state authority. Findings reveal that the prevalence of mob justice signifies both democratic erosion and socio legal fragility, underscoring the urgent need for structural reforms in law enforcement, community engagement, and judicial accessibility. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at reinforcing public trust, eliminating institutional gaps, and ensuring equitable access to justice—preconditions for restoring the rule of law in Bangladesh’s new political reality.

Keywords

Mob JusticeBangladeshCriminal Justice SystemHuman RightsInstitutional Collapse

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Author details
Md. Emran Hossain, Ph.D.
NUJS, Kolkata, India, Professor Abu Zayed Muhammad, Department of Law, City University.
✉ Corresponding Author
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