At least 32 people were killed in incidents of mob violence across the country in May, marking the highest monthly death toll in the past six months, according to a report released by the human rights organisation Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF).

The organisation’s monthly human rights report said 71 people were critically injured in at least 69 separate incidents during the month, reflecting a sharp rise from April, when 21 people were killed and 49 others injured.

“The number of people killed in mob violence rose from 21 to 32 in May, reflecting a clear increase in the tendency of people to take the law into their own hands,” the report said.

According to MSF, mob violence claimed 19 lives in March, 18 in February, 21 in January and 10 in December last year, indicating a fluctuating but concerning trend.

Among those killed in May, 14 died over allegations of theft, four following altercations, two over robbery allegations and two over allegations of rape and sexual assault. At least 35 injured individuals were later handed over to law enforcement agencies.

MSF also noted that members of law enforcement agencies came under attack in several incidents of mob violence.

The rise in mob killings came despite repeated assurances from Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed that mob justice would not be tolerated. The issue was also discussed in parliament.

During a Police Week programme on 10 May, the home minister said the government would amend existing laws or introduce new legislation if necessary to curb mob violence.

MSF Founding President Advocate Sultana Kamal expressed concern over the situation, saying the growing trend of mob violence has made public safety “a matter of serious concern.”

The report also highlighted an increase in violence against women and children, with a total of 326 incidents recorded in May, up from 314 in April.

Rape cases increased by nearly 40%, reaching 70 incidents in May, while 16 gang-rape cases were reported during the month. Cases involving rape followed by murder rose to six from two in April.

MSF referred to the widely discussed rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in the capital’s Pallabi area. While appreciating the swift arrest of suspects and initiation of legal proceedings, the organisation called for impartial and speedy justice in all cases involving violence against women and children.

The report said seven people died in jail custody during May.

On the Bangladesh-India border, four Bangladeshi nationals were reportedly killed by India’s Border Security Force (BSF), including three who were shot dead and one allegedly tortured to death. In addition, the bodies of a fisherman and an unidentified woman were recovered from border areas, while a young man was stabbed to death near the frontier, bringing total border-related deaths to seven during the month.

Along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, three Bangladeshis were killed in two separate landmine explosions, the report added.

Meanwhile, the report noted a slight improvement in political violence. Three people were killed in political clashes in both April and May, while the number of injured declined from 303 in April to 193 in May.

MSF urged authorities to take effective measures to prevent mob violence, ensure public safety and strengthen the rule of law across the country.