According to data from the Manabadhikar Shongshkriti Foundation (MSF), 121 people were killed in mob beatings between August 2024 and January 2025. Another human rights organisation, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), reported that the highest number of fatalities from mob beating in the past five years occurred in 2024. That year, 146 people lost their lives in such incidents, almost three times the number recorded in 2023, when it was 51.

Rights activists state that incidents of "mob violence" have escalated since August 5, 2024 while the government has taken little action to curb the issue. In some instances, mobs have reportedly been utilised to forcibly remove individuals from their positions. Human rights organisations have expressed deep concern over the increasing number of deaths due to mob beating. They point to the prolonged undemocratic environment, failure to maintain law and order following last year's uprising, and incompetence apart from instability and fear within the administration as the leading causes.

Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain announced on Thursday that 14 units of Beximco Industrial Park have been closed, with payments to laid off workers set to begin from March. The Advisory Council Committee met this week and reached this decision, he said at a press conference addressing the labour and business situation of Beximco Industrial Park's factories.

A total of Tk 5.25 billion will be required to settle the dues of 31,669 workers and 1,565 officials from the 14 closed industrial units. Payments will start on 9 March. About financial challenges, the adviser said no bank was willing to provide funds. Out of the total amount, Tk 3.25 billion will come from the finance division, while the labour ministry will provide Tk 2 billion as a loan. The Bangladesh Bank will replace the funds when necessary. A committee led by Lutfey Siddique, the Chief Adviser's Special Envoy, will determine the next steps regarding the closed units.

Bangladesh saw the sharpest decline in the 2024 Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), falling 25 spots to 100th out of 167. The country remains a hybrid regime but now ranks closer to the lower end of the classification. Bangladesh also recorded the largest score decline globally, falling 1.44 points on the 0-10 scale, following a "rigged election, the ousting of the prime minister, and political unrest".

In the index released on Thursday, India ranked 41st, Bhutan 79th, Nepal 96th, Pakistan 124th, and Afghanistan 167th, the lowest in the world. The index highlights a continued decline in global democracy, with autocracies gaining strength. "The world's democracies are struggling," said Joan Hoey, director of the Democracy Index. The index assesses five key factors: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, government functioning, political participation, and political culture. Based on these, countries are classified as full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, or authoritarian regimes.

Law enforcement and security agencies intensified patrolling and set up more checkpoints across the country this week to rein in a surge in crimes. The police, joint forces, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and Armed Police Battalion ran activities alongside Operation Devil Hunt, launched on February 8, to restore the runaway law and order situation. In 24 hours till 8am on Thursday (Feb. 27), 1,657 people were arrested on different crime charges, said a press release issued by the police headquarters.

Of these people, 743 individuals who are mostly leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliates, were held in Operation Devil Hunt, said the release. At least 31,605 people, including 11,250 in Operation Devil Hunt, were arrested since February 8. Meanwhile, home affairs adviser, retired lieutenant general Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury started conducting surprise inspection visits at different police stations, inspected the Mirpur, Darussalam, Adabor and Mohammadpur police stations, among others.