Media, Dissent, and Democratic Accountability

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Introduction: When Justice Is Replaced by the Mob

Bangladesh stands at a critical crossroads. Since 2023, the country has witnessed an alarming erosion of human rights protections, shrinking civic space, and repeated failures of the rule of law. Amid political instability, attacks on journalists, suppression of dissent, and outbreaks of mob violence have become increasingly normalised.

Mob violence and vandalism are not expressions of justice—they are symptoms of institutional collapse. When crowds replace courts, when fear replaces law, and when silence is enforced through intimidation, democracy itself is placed in danger.

This article seeks to raise social awareness and issue a collective call: violence—whether by the state or by mobs—must stop if Bangladesh is to remain a constitutional, humane society.

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The Human Rights Landscape Since 2023

From 2023 onward, Bangladesh has experienced:

• Increased pressure on independent media and journalists

• Restrictions on peaceful assembly and political expression

• Arbitrary arrests and intimidation of dissenting voices

• Weak accountability for excessive use of force

• A growing culture of mob justice, vandalism, and collective punishment

These trends undermine not only individual rights but also public trust in institutions meant to protect citizens equally.

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Media Under Attack: Silencing the Public Conscience

A free press is the backbone of democracy. Yet journalists in Bangladesh have increasingly faced threats, harassment, legal intimidation, and physical attacks. When reporters are silenced, society loses its mirror. Truth becomes fragile, and rumour fills the vacuum.

Attacks on media outlets—whether by authorities, political actors, or angry mobs—are attacks on the public’s right to know. No democratic society can survive when journalism is treated as an enemy rather than a public service.

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Dissent Is Not a Crime

Peaceful dissent is a constitutional right, not an act of disloyalty. Students, workers, opposition activists, and civil society actors have historically played a vital role in shaping Bangladesh’s democratic journey.

Criminalising dissent pushes frustration into the streets, where emotions replace dialogue and violence becomes more likely. Suppressing voices does not create stability—it breeds anger, polarisation, and unrest.

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Mob Violence and Vandalism: A Collective Failure

Mob violence—lynching, arson, vandalism, and collective retaliation—has emerged as one of the gravest threats to Bangladesh’s social fabric.

Mob justice:

• Destroys innocent lives

• Targets minorities and the vulnerable

• Replaces evidence with accusation

• Rewards violence with impunity

Whether driven by political anger, misinformation, or communal hatred, mob violence represents a total breakdown of moral and legal order. It is not justice; it is anarchy.

No cause—political, religious, or ideological—can justify mobs attacking people, homes, temples, mosques, newsrooms, or public property.

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Rule of Law vs Rule of Fear

The rule of law means:

• The law applies equally to all

• Guilt is decided by courts, not crowds

• Force is restrained, accountable, and lawful

• Institutions protect citizens, not intimidate them

When the rule of law collapses, fear fills the gap. Fear silences journalists. Fear deters witnesses. Fear empowers mobs. Fear erodes democracy.

Restoring the rule of law is not a partisan demand—it is a national necessity.

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Comparative Responsibility: Government, Institutions, and Society

Human rights protection is not the duty of one government alone. It is a shared responsibility of:

• The state and its security institutions

• Political parties and leaders

• Media organizations

• Civil society

• Ordinary citizens

Governments must ensure accountability and restraint. Institutions must act independently. Citizens must reject violence, refuse participation in mobs, and protect one another’s rights—even when opinions differ.

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What Must Be Done: A Civic Call to Action

1. Stop Mob Violence—Now

Citizens must refuse to participate in or endorse mob actions. Silence in the face of mob violence is complicity.

2. Protect Journalists and Truth-Tellers

Attacks on media must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable—without exception.

3. Defend Peaceful Dissent

Protest is not treason. Dialogue is not a weakness. Democracy depends on disagreement.

4. Restore Accountability

Independent investigations into violence—state or non-state—must be credible, transparent, and time-bound.

5. Reject Hate and Misinformation

Rumors and disinformation fuel mobs. Verification and restraint save lives.

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Conclusion: Democracy Cannot Survive on Broken Streets

Bangladesh’s future cannot be built on fear, vandalism, and mob rule. A nation born through sacrifice and struggle deserves institutions that protect dignity, not crowds that destroy it.

To stop vandalism and mob violence is to defend humanity itself.
To protect dissent is to protect democracy.
To uphold the rule of law is to secure Bangladesh’s future.

Justice must be institutional—or it will be lost to the mob.

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About the Author

Minhaz Samad Chowdhury is an Independent Human Rights Defender from Bangladesh, focusing on state violence, media freedom, minority rights, and democratic accountability.

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