Tajul urges caution in using term 'mob', politicians see remark as 'threat'

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam yesterday urged caution in using the term "mob", saying it is often employed to undermine the legitimacy of a revolution.

Speaking at a policy dialogue on Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), Tajul said repeated use of the term risks discrediting revolutionary movements. The remarks drew strong criticism from several speakers.

Former Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz described the statement as potentially "threatening".

In his opening address, CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi said Bangladesh was witnessing "mobocracy", warning that social media trials and vigilante justice were eroding legal safeguards. "If religious groups can take the law into their own hands and justice remains delayed, symbolic measures alone cannot uphold the rule of law," he said.

Jatiyo Party Secretary General Shameem Haider Patwary warned that tolerating injustice before or after a revolution would backfire. "Mobs were allowed, and now they are consuming the government and the Election Commission. They could consume the country as well," he said.

Responding, Tajul Islam said street crimes or violence against minorities by certain groups should not be equated with the movement that led to the fall of Ganabhaban. "The word 'mob' must be used with extreme caution," he said.

Ruhin Hossain Prince rejected the argument, saying the rule of law cannot coexist with encouragement of mob action. BNP leader Nilufar Chowdhury also criticised the remarks. Moderating the discussion, CGS President Zillur Rahman warned that denying the existence of mobs could lead to serious incidents. The dialogue was attended by politicians, lawyers, human rights activists and civil society representatives.