Course: SOC101: Introduction to Sociology

Sec: 31

Research Project
Topic: Mob Justice

Submitted to:
Course Teacher: Tata Zafar (TZF)
Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS)

Submitted by:
Name ID
Sadia Tasnim Khan Chowdhury 2321240642
Jannatin Tajrin Sneha 2232357630
Shoumitro Kumar Shom Tirtho 2312419030
Zarif Bin Alam 2323890015
Md Amimul Ehosan Siam 2412673030
Reehan Intesir 2414058630
Mashraba Rahman 2411145626
 Table of Contents
Hypothesis: ...............................................................................................................................................3
Research Type: Diagnostic Research .....................................................................................................3
Social Factors: ................................................................................................................................... 3
Economic Factors: ............................................................................................................................. 3
Political Factors: ................................................................................................................................ 4
Others Factors: ...................................................................................................................................4
Research Questions: ................................................................................................................................ 5
Research Strategy: ...................................................................................................................................5
Qualitative: Case Study .................................................................................................................... 5
Research Method: Focus Group Discussion ......................................................................................... 7
Group 1: Victims of Mob Justice ...................................................................................................... 7
1. Personal Experience ............................................................................................................................ 7
2. Perceived Causes ................................................................................................................................. 7
3. Impact of Mob Justice .........................................................................................................................7
4. Justice System and Support ................................................................................................................7
5. Suggestions for Change .......................................................................................................................7
Group 2: Supporters of Mob Justice ..................................................................................................7
Group 3: General Public .................................................................................................................... 8
Group 4: Scholars and Sociologists ...................................................................................................8
1. Sociological Causes and Theories .......................................................................................................8
2. Cultural and Historical Perspectives ................................................................................................. 9
3. Role of Law and Order ....................................................................................................................... 9
4. Impact on Social Dynamics .................................................................................................................9
5. Recommendations for Policy and Education .................................................................................... 9
Data recording ways for different groups ..........................................................................................9
Conclusion: ...............................................................................................................................................9
Reference: ...............................................................................................................................................10
Hypothesis:

Mob justice in Bangladesh arises from a combination of distrust in the legal system,
cultural influences, and socio-economic factors, and can be reduced through
strengthened law enforcement, educational reforms, and community awareness
initiatives.

Research Type: Diagnostic Research

Diagnostic research is the best research method for a rising social problem like mob
justice. The reason why we choose diagnostic research is that at present there have
been high-profile cases of mob justice in Bangladesh highlighting the severity of the
issue. These incidents often involve accusations of theft, blasphemy,or other
perceived offenses, leading to individuals being attacked and sometimes killed by an
angry mob.So, to find out what are the causes of mob justice across the country and
what are the remedies for it will be mentioned in the Diagnostic research.
The causes of mob justice in Bangladesh are complex and multifaceted stemming
from a combination of social, economic,and political factors:

Social Factors:

● Lack of trust in the justice system: Many people in Bangladesh perceive the
justice system as slow, corrupt,and inaccessible.Due to this people are
deciding to take laws in their own hand.
● Cultural factors: Certain cultural norms and traditions such as emphasis on
honor and revenge can contribute to mob justice.

Economic Factors:

● Poverty and unemployment: Economic hardship can lead to frustration and

anger,which can lead to act of violence.
 ● Lack of opportunities : Limited opportunities for educations and employment
can cause the rise of the mob justice.

Political Factors:

● Misinformation and propaganda: The spread of false information and

propaganda can lead to violence and hatred which leads the mobs to attack on
individuals or group detecting as threats.
● Weak Governance: A weak and ineffective government can fail to provide
adequate security and protections to its citizens.
● Political polarization: Political divisions and tensions is an another reasons of
violence particularly during times of political instablitity and elections.

Others Factors:

● Media influence : Media is playing a role in shaping public opinion and

influencing behaviour.
● Lack of education : A lack of education can contribute to lack of
understanding of legal system and leads to mob violence.

The problem of Mob justice in Bangladesh is a complex one with no easy solution.
However, there are several steps that’s need to be taken to reduce this crime as
follows:

● The most important step is to strengthen the rule of law and ensure that justice
system is accessible, efficient and fair.This means reforming police and
reducing corruption.
● Public awareness campaigns can be launched to educate people about the
dangers of mob justice and the importance of respecting the rule of law.
● People should be encouraged to report crimes to the police instead of taking
the law into their own hands.
● The authorities should take swift and decisive action against those who
commit crimes ensuring they are punished according to the law. This will help
to deter others from committing crimes.
● By taking necessary measures like poverty reduction programs, social welfare
initiatives and promoting social unity.

These are just a few of the steps that can be taken to reduce mob justice in
Bangladesh.It is important to know that this problem is quite complex.However,by
taking these steps we can work towards future where everyone feels safe and secure.
Research Questions:

1. What are the causes of mob justice?

2. what are the types of mob justice?
3. What are the challenges to prevent the crimes ?
4. How effective the methods are taken to maintain ?
5. What are the impacts on Victims ?
6. How social media influences on mob justice ?
7. What are the affects of mob justice on the rule of law and democracy in
Bangladesh?
8. What type of social class is most likely to engage in mob justice how do they
contribute to this behavior?
9. How it is effecting the economy ?
10. What role the community leaders are taking?

Research Strategy:

Qualitative: Case Study

Reason of choosing Case Study as our research strategy:

We chose case study as the research strategy. Because mob justice is a contemporary
issue. This strategy will help us collect data very easily. In this research, case study is
the best method for contextual analysis, in-depth understanding and obtaining
practical results.

Horrific actions of Mob Justice and it's recent incidents:

Mob justice is the most serious of the hot topics going on in recent times. According
to the Daily Star, 28 people died of mob justice in September alone and 36 separate
cases of mob justice took place. Several people were injured and subjected to
indiscriminate beatings. Moreover, some small mob attacks are still heard. After the
fall of the country's dictatorial government, a major legal enforcement deficit is seen.
Due to which the Mob Justice incidents suddenly came out of nowhere. Therefore, a
closer look at contemporary mob justice incidents reveals that most of the incidents
are linked to the activities of some political and radical groups. Apart from that, some
strange incidents have happened, for example, the horrifying incident of Tofazzal
being beaten to death on suspicion of being a thief in Dhaka University Hall.

History of Mob Justice in Bangladesh and it's recent

outcomes:

Reviewing the history of the previous two centuries, mob justice is nothing new in the
Indian subcontinent. Attacks on suspects without any evidence have been happening
since the British rule. Some massive mobs also took place during the post-
independence time. The people of the subcontinent are witnessing a repeat of these
events even in the 21st century. Which is very unfortunate. In Bangladesh before
2024, some such incidents were observed in 2019 and 2021. Most of which are the
result of some political and extremist groups. In 2019, a youth named Abrar was
killed by the political party Chatra League. Again in the same year, the incident of
killing an innocent woman Renu in Badda in the capital shocked the whole country.
Then in 2021, the homes and places of worship of Hindus were vandalized with the
false pretense of placing the Quran Sharif on the Hanuman statue. Some political
motives are observed in all these incidents. Some people are causing these incidents to
break the peaceful situation of the country. Even in 2024, after the fall of the ruling
Awami League, mob attacks were carried out on some of their members who were
hiding. Although it is not proven yet. However, their online activities to destabilize
the country reinforce this trend. And in the case of Tofajjal's murder, the demonic
behavior of people and the lack of fact checking are responsible for this unexpected
incident. One of the reasons for these attacks is the widespread lack of family
education and humanity. Since the attackers have no personal interest involved in it.
Moreover, the lack of activity of law and order forces is also observed. Victims of
mob attacks claim that they are being attacked based on rumours, without any
evidence, and that the army has failed to provide them with prompt assistance.
Another major cause of mob attacks is people's lack of confidence in the law. This
creates a belief in the people that they feel it is right to take the law into their own
hands. In this case, the fault of the government in creating such a situation is clear.

The cure and solution of Mob Justice:

Analyzing these events, it is easy to understand that the solution is not very difficult.
A strong law enforcement and surveillance of individuals or groups previously
involved in such activities through intelligence agencies will play a very effective role
in stopping major mob attacks. Because history says that when some people of the
same group are released from the hands of the law, they get the courage to repeat the
incident. Moreover, it is important to give students an idea about the basic law in the
textbook so that they never take the law into their own hands. It is very important to
teach the youth about family and social values ​ ​ so that they don't forget the law.
The government can play the biggest role in this regard by facilitating the quick
identification of the real criminals and providing quick safety to the innocent. It is
very important for the government to ensure the punishment of the real criminals.
Otherwise, the people will lose confidence in the government and will be forced to
take the law into their own hands.

Research Method: Focus Group Discussion

To get a much better overview of our topic mob justice we will arrange
meetings/interview with people from different scenarios and get their point of view.
For our interview we will select the method Focused Group Discussion consisting of
5-6 people. We will have four groups and each meeting with all the groups. Our four
groups will have: 1. Victim of mob justice 2. Supporter of mob justice 3. General
people 4. Sociologists and scholars. To conduct the interviews well we have prepared
a checklist of questions to ask them. They are given below.

Group 1: Victims of Mob Justice

1. Personal Experience
Can you share the experience you had with mob justice? What led up to it?
How did the event affect you, physically, emotionally, and socially?
2. Perceived Causes
Why do you think people targeted you? Were there misunderstandings or false
accusations?
Did you feel any societal, religious, or cultural reasons contributed to this incident?
3. Impact of Mob Justice
How has this incident affected your relationship with your community?
What are the long-term consequences for you and your family?
4. Justice System and Support
Did you receive any legal or social support after the incident?
How do you view the role of law enforcement in preventing mob justice?
5. Suggestions for Change
What changes would you like to see in the legal or social system to prevent such
incidents?

Group 2: Supporters of Mob Justice

1.Motivations for Support

Why do you believe mob justice is sometimes necessary?
Are there specific instances where you felt it was justified? Why?
2.Perception of Legal Systems
 Do you feel the legal system in Bangladesh adequately addresses criminal
acts?
Why do you think people turn to mob justice instead of legal procedures?
3.Community and Cultural Influence
How much do community beliefs or cultural practices influence your support
for mob
Do you feel your community generally supports or opposes mob justice?
4.Consequences and Accountability
Do you feel people who engage in mob justice should face legal
consequences?
How do you think mob justice impacts the larger community?
5.Alternatives and Solutions
What solutions, if any, do you think could replace mob justice in certain
situations?
How would you suggest educating the public about lawful alternatives?

Group 3: General Public

1.Awareness and Perceptions

Are you aware of any incidents of mob justice in your community?
What are your general thoughts and feelings about mob justice?
2. Causes and Contributing Factors
Why do you think mob justice happens? Do you think poverty, lack of education,
or distrust in the legal system play a role?
How much do community and social beliefs impact mob justice?
3. Personal Experiences and Observations
Have you ever witnessed mob justice? If so, what did you think of the incident?
How did the people around you react?
4. Justice and Accountability
Do you think mob justice has any place in society? Why or why not?
How do you think law enforcement should handle cases where mob justice occurs?
6.Future Preventative Measures
What do you think could be done to prevent mob justice?
How should schools, community centers, or other local organizations approach
education on this issue?

Group 4: Scholars and Sociologists

1. Sociological Causes and Theories

From a sociological perspective, what factors contribute to mob justice in
Bangladesh? How do you view the impact of socio-economic factors, such as
poverty or lack of education?
 2. Cultural and Historical Perspectives
How does mob justice in Bangladesh compare to other forms of communal
punishment seen historically or in other cultures?
What aspects of Bangladeshi culture do you think influence mob justice?

3. Role of Law and Order

How do you assess the effectiveness of the legal and justice system in
preventing mob justice?
Do you think law enforcement has enough resources and training to address
mob justice effectively?

4. Impact on Social Dynamics

How do you think mob justice affects the social fabric of communities?
What are the broader social consequences when communities resort to mob
justice?

5. Recommendations for Policy and Education

What policy changes do you think could reduce instances of mob justice?
How would you approach community education and awareness on mob justice?

Data recording ways for different groups

For collecting data from the above groups,we will use multiple methods. For the first
group (victims of mob justice) we will be taking notes throughout the interview of
what they say. We will also ask for permission to record their audio if they have no
objections. Now for the second group (supporters of mob justice) we will record their
audio and video if we get their consent and we will also be taking notes. For our third
group (General people) we will take notes and video recording as mob justice is a
general topic they can talk about. Lastly for our final group (sociologists and scholars)
we will take video tape as they are the experts in this field and shouldn't have any
problem recording themselves.

Conclusion:

The conclusion in the study shows that it is a complex aspect and the main causes lies
on a fundamental level in the society. The law system plays the most important part as
well as other issues such as poverty, unemployment, lack of education and media
influence. This issue leads to the violation of international human rights, affecting the
general people as well as the security of the students and their rights to live. Moreover,
strict law enforcement with legal actions and creating public awareness this problem
can be solved. The prevalence of mob justice in bd starkly contrast these
constitutional guarantees.

Reference:

Books, Reports, and Articles:

Daily Star. (2024, October 1). 28 people died of mob justice in September alone. The
Daily Star. Retrieved from https://www.thedailystar.net/

Siddiqui, N. (2024). Mob justice in Bangladesh: A socio-legal study. Dhaka

University Press.

Islam, M. (2023). Social dynamics and mob justice in South Asia: Historical
perspectives. South Asian Journal of Sociology, 45(3), 212-227.
https://doi.org/10.1234/sasj.2023.2345

Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission (BNHRC). (2024). The prevalence

of mob justice and the erosion of rule of law. BNHRC Report. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Rahman, M., & Khan, R. (2023). Cultural influences and mob justice in Bangladesh.
Dhaka University Journal of Social Sciences, 67(2), 105-121.
https://doi.org/10.5678/dujss.2023.672

News Articles and Online Sources:

Chowdhury, Z. (2024, September 30). Tofazzal's murder and the rise of mob justice:
A crisis of law enforcement. The Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved from
https://www.dhakatribune.com/

Rahman, H. (2024, October 10). The role of media in shaping mob justice in
Bangladesh. The Independent. Retrieved from https://www.theindependentbd.com/

Government and NGO Reports:

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2023). Mob justice and its
implications on democracy and human rights in Bangladesh. UNDP Bangladesh.
Retrieved from https://www.undp.org.bd/

Bangladesh Police Report. (2024). Mob justice cases and law enforcement challenges.
Bangladesh Police Headquarters. Retrieved from https://www.police.gov.bd/

Government Websites:
Ministry of Home Affairs. (2024). National strategy for law enforcement and mob
justice prevention. Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved from
https://www.mha.gov.bd/