Bangladesh Paramilitary Officer Lynched in Chittagong as Mob Violence Continues to Rise

A senior officer of Bangladesh’s elite paramilitary force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), was beaten to death by a violent mob in Chittagong, marking a disturbing escalation in mob lynchings across the country. The incident has triggered serious concerns over law and order as well as the growing boldness of criminal groups operating with impunity.

The victim has been identified as Abdul Motaleb, who was serving as a Deputy Assistant Director in the RAB. According to preliminary accounts, the incident occurred when a RAB team arrived at a locality in Chittagong to carry out an official operation targeting suspected criminals.

As the team entered the area, they were reportedly surrounded by an unruly mob believed to include individuals linked to criminal networks. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, with several RAB personnel allegedly taken hostage. During the confrontation, Abdul Motaleb was brutally assaulted and later succumbed to his injuries. Three other paramilitary personnel were injured in the attack and are currently undergoing medical treatment.

The killing of a serving paramilitary officer has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh’s security establishment. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with security forces deployed in the area to prevent further unrest and identify those involved in the lynching.

This incident comes amid a worrying surge in mob violence across Bangladesh since mid-December, with multiple lynchings reported in different districts. A significant number of these attacks have targeted members of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, raising international concern over minority safety and communal tensions.

One of the most shocking cases occurred on December 18 in the Mymensingh district, where 27-year-old Hindu garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was lynched and then set on fire by a mob following allegations of blasphemy. The brutality of the attack sparked widespread outrage, leading to the arrest of at least 21 individuals. The main accused, a former Islamic religious teacher, was detained earlier this month and is believed to have played a central role in orchestrating the killing.

In the weeks that followed, several other fatal incidents were reported. In Rajbari district, Amrit Mondal was beaten to death by villagers over alleged extortion claims. In another case in Mymensingh, Bajendra Biswas was shot dead under suspicious circumstances. On New Year’s Eve, Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das was stabbed and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur, later dying during treatment in Dhaka.

Additional cases include the death of a 25-year-old Hindu man in Naogaon district, who drowned while attempting to flee from locals chasing him on suspicion of theft, and the killing of trader Liton Chandra Das in Kaliganj, where a minor dispute with customers escalated into a fatal mob assault.

The killing of a RAB officer has raised alarm about the erosion of state authority, with experts warning that mob justice is increasingly replacing due process. Rights groups have urged the Bangladeshi government to take decisive action to restore law and order, ensure accountability, and protect both security personnel and vulnerable communities.

As investigations continue, the death of Abdul Motaleb stands as a stark reminder of the growing challenge posed by mob violence in Bangladesh, underscoring the urgent need for institutional reforms and strict enforcement of the rule of law.