Dhaka: Independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana on Monday told Parliament that incidents of mob violence continue to occur despite repeated assurances from the home minister to curb such practices in the country. ‘Our Home Minister is present here. Not once, not twice, but several times he has assured us that mob culture will no longer exist in Bangladesh. He assured us there would be no culture of impunity and that people would get justice. But we are seeing one mob incident after another,’ she said.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rumeen Farhana, elected from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, made this remark while taking part in the discussion on a notice placed on a matter of public importance under the rule 71 of the rules of procedure in the House. She emphasized that although different countries are known for distinct cultural practices such as dance, music, acting, and poetry, Bangladesh has been witnessing a ‘mob culture’ over the past one and a half years and notably in the last two months.
She alleged that mob incidents led to the removal of the Bangladesh Bank governor, harassment of the BSS chief, and incidents at Barishal court premises and the Supreme Court lawyers’ room. She also referred to attacks on media outlets, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.
Rumeen Farhana mentioned incidents of mob violence resulting in deaths, including the killing of a suspected robber in Chattogram about a year and a half ago and the recent beating to death of a peer (spiritual leader) in Kushtia. Drawing the attention of the Home Minister, she highlighted that such incidents tend to increase when people are deprived of justice.
‘There is frustration, anger and acute inequality among people, and above all, there is a lack of exemplary punishment,’ she said, adding that justice has yet to be delivered in the Chattogram lynching case even after a long time.