The family of a 28-year-old Hindu garment worker, who was brutally lynched in Bangladesh on accusations of blasphemy, has now revealed a shocking truth. They allege that the real trigger for the horrific murder was not religious insult, but professional jealousy over his recent promotion at work.
Promotion Exam Success Sparks Deadly Resentment
Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and burnt alive by a mob outside his factory in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. The incident occurred a fortnight ago, but his family, speaking from Bangladesh, has provided a chilling new context. They state that Dipu had recently cleared an in-house promotion exam, outperforming several colleagues, and was elevated from supervisor to 'in-charge'.
"They couldn't accept the fact that they had to call him 'Sir' in the factory," said Baburam Das, Dipu's father-in-law. He explained that colleagues who failed the same exam manufactured the blasphemy charge. "They simply raised an objection citing his religion." On the day of the incident, a verbal altercation over religion escalated. He was beaten near the factory gate and then handed over to an incited mob waiting outside.
A False Accusation and a Shattered Family
Dipu's brother, Apu Chandra Das, corroborated the account, stating he heard similar versions from co-workers. "He was a calm, friendly person who respected all religions equally," Apu said. "It's devastating that his colleagues, angry over a promotion, chose to take revenge in such a horrific way." The family insists the backlash was solely about his achievement and identity.
The investigation, launched after a complaint was filed on December 19, is being handled by local police and Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The RAB's official statement confirmed a critical finding: no post or act by Dipu indicating blasphemy was found on social media, which was the original basis of the accusation. Approximately 20 people have been arrested so far, though the FIR names around 150 unidentified individuals.
A Quest for Justice and a Life in Mourning
While the Bangladesh government has extended support—providing the family Rs 25,000 a month, dry rations, and a promised job for Dipu's wife—the loss is irreparable. Dipu's father, Robi Lal Das, said, "all we want is justice. He was falsely accused. That is the only truth."
The human cost is profound. Dipu's widow now wears white, and their one-year-old child searches for a father who will never return. "How do we explain to her what happened? All her happiness has been snatched away," a grieving Baburam said. His final hope is that justice will prevent any other family from enduring such a tragedy, highlighting the vulnerability faced by religious minorities when prejudice mixes with personal grievance.
