Dhaka, 1 February 2026 – Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) has expressed deep concern over what it describes as a significant deterioration in Bangladesh’s overall human rights situation, reporting a sharp rise in mob violence, unidentified bodies, custodial deaths, and attacks on minority communities in January compared to the previous month. According to MSF’s January human rights report, signed by Executive Director Saidur Rahman and released on Saturday, 21 people were killed in 28 incidents of mob lynching during January, nearly double the death toll recorded in December, when 10 people were killed in 24 such incidents. MSF described mob lynching as a serious criminal offense equivalent to extrajudicial killing, saying the growing trend reflects public distrust in the justice system and institutional weaknesses in law enforcement. The report also notes a worrying increase in the number of unidentified bodies recovered, with 57 bodies found in January compared to 48 in December, raising fears of enforced disappearances, violence, and extrajudicial killings. Custodial deaths also rose sharply, with 15 people dying in prison custody in January, up from nine in December. Additionally, two deaths occurred in law enforcement custody, and the organization said the continued rise in torture-related deaths indicates that custodial abuse remains a structural problem. Election-related violence was also highlighted as a growing concern. Political violence deaths rose from one in December to four in January, while injuries from such incidents increased significantly, suggesting that the electoral environment is becoming increasingly violent. The report further records a surge in attacks against minority communities. Incidents involving vandalism of religious idols, attacks on homes, and communal violence increased from four incidents in December to 15 in January, reflecting what MSF described as weaknesses in protection mechanisms for vulnerable communities. MSF also criticized recent legal actions, saying the number of accused persons in cases filed after political changes has increased unusually. Named accused persons reportedly rose from 30 to 120, while unidentified accused persons increased from 110 to 320, raising concerns about transparency, fairness, and possible misuse of legal processes. Executive Director Saidur Rahman said law enforcement agencies appear more focused on increasing accused lists in politically sensitive cases rather than preventing mob violence and ensuring public safety. He also expressed concern that some political narratives appear to justify mob violence instead of condemning it. MSF concluded that almost all major human rights indicators worsened in January, reflecting ongoing political instability, weak law enforcement, and a culture of impunity. The organization urged authorities to take urgent measures to restore rule of law and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.