A brutal mob lynching in Bangladesh has claimed the life of a 25-year-old Hindu garment worker, with police admitting that a delayed call for assistance and massive public obstruction prevented them from reaching the victim in time to save him.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The incident unfolded on Thursday night at the Pioneer Knitwears (BD) Ltd factory in Jamirdia, Bhaluka, within the Mymensingh district. Dipu Chandra Das, the victim, was accused by fellow workers of "hurting religious sentiments" around 5:00 pm, as per factory senior manager Sakib Mahmud. Mahmud stated there was no proof for the allegations, but the protest rapidly grew, drawing hundreds.
The situation turned fatal around 8:45 pm when an agitated crowd forced their way into the factory, dragged Dipu from a security room, and assaulted him. Local residents later joined the factory workers in the attack. Dipu was beaten to death on the spot. In a further horrific act, his body was taken to the nearby Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and set ablaze.
Police Response Hampered by Crowd and Chaos
Md Farhad Hossain Khan, the Superintendent of Industrial Police in Mymensingh, provided a stark account of the failed rescue attempt. He told The Daily Star he was informed of the incident by an assistant sub-inspector at approximately 8:00 pm. His office was about 15 kilometres away, while the local Bhaluka police station was significantly closer.
"Immediately, we started running towards the spot, but it was too late," Khan said. He described encountering a furious mob of hundreds on the road and a 10-kilometre traffic jam that lasted nearly three hours, severely obstructing law enforcement. By the time they reached the factory gate, the mob was already carrying Dipu's body toward the highway.
The police superintendent pointed to a critical failure: "Just a timely call could have saved Dipu's life, but it was not made." This admission highlights a systemic breakdown in the emergency response during the volatile situation.
Arrests and Condemnation
In the aftermath, Bangladesh law enforcement has intensified its crackdown. Twelve individuals have now been arrested in connection with the murder. The latest two, identified as Ashik (25) and Kaium (25), were detained early on Sunday and handed over to Bhaluka Police Station.
The interim government of Bangladesh has strongly condemned the lynching, issuing a warning that those responsible "will not be spared." The case has drawn significant attention to issues of mob violence and the protection of minority communities in the country.
The killing of Dipu Chandra Das underscores the deadly speed at which rumours can escalate into violence and the critical need for swift institutional intervention to prevent such tragedies.
