Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern and condemnation over the brutal killing of a man identified as a ‘Pir’ in Daulatpur, Kushtia.
The victim, identified as Shamim, was beaten and hacked to death by an organised mob on Sunday following allegations of “defamation of religion”.
According to local sources, tensions erupted in the area after an old video began circulating on social media. This escalated into horrific violence as a mob attacked Shamim’s darbar (shrine), vandalising the premises and setting it on fire. ASK noted with grave concern that despite the presence of law enforcement at the scene, they failed to control the situation, and the mob continued their celebrations while the shrine was ablaze.
In a statement, ASK asserted that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to life, liberty, and security. It further demands that no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except in accordance with the law and ensures the right to equal protection under the law. The organisation maintained that such acts of “mob justice” are a direct violation of the Constitution and contrary to the rule of law.
The rights body remarked that such “atrocious attacks and killings” raise serious questions regarding the effectiveness of the state’s law enforcement mechanism. They alleged that during the tenure of the interim government, there has been a series of planned attacks on Sufi saints, shrines, and religious sites driven by unidentified instigators. These incidents, involving vandalism, arson, and lynching, constitute extreme violations of human rights.
ASK further claimed that the state’s previous failure to prevent such violence has significantly increased the current risk of “mob terrorism”. The statement emphasised that justice cannot be ensured in a democratic society without the rule of law. The culture of taking the law into one’s own hands institutionalises fear, instability, and a “culture of impunity”.
The organisation has demanded a neutral and transparent investigation to quickly identify and bring to justice all those directly and indirectly involved in the Kushtia murder. Furthermore, ASK called upon the authorities to take appropriate legal action against those responsible for inciting violence by spreading provocative, misleading, or hateful content on social media.
