Dhaka: Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman on Wednesday said the government is treating recent incidents of mob violence with utmost seriousness and will investigate each case thoroughly, stressing that taking the law into one's own hand will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
According to United News of Bangladesh, during a briefing at the Press Information Department conference room, Dr Zahed emphasized that even if a thief or robber is caught red-handed, people have no right to assault, let alone kill, the suspect. He reiterated that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards mob violence.
The adviser acknowledged that there may have been administrative lapses in some cases, and stated that these are being reviewed to prevent recurrence. He explained that while mobs are usually spontaneous and unorganised, there has been a concerning trend of organised gatherings being mobilized to carry out attacks or blockades, which he described as organized crimes.
Dr Zahed cited the recent incident in Kushtia, where a self-proclaimed 'Pir' was beaten and hacked to death over derogatory remarks about Islam, as an example of a planned act. He noted that a case has been filed over the incident and suspects have been identified.
The government, he assured, will proceed with cases where there is clear social consensus, and authorities are open to reviewing incidents carried out in the name of mob action during the interim government period.
Addressing a recent arrest of a female political party worker over a social media post, Dr Zahed mentioned that the post contained misleading and objectionable information. He admitted that greater caution and clearer guidelines are needed in making such arrests.
To address these concerns, he announced that the government is planning to form a panel of lawyers to review cases before arrests are made, ensuring proper verification. Dr Zahed also expressed concern over the spread of misinformation and hate speech on social media.