A fresh wave of violence in Bangladesh has claimed the life of a young Hindu man in a brutal incident that has shocked the nation. Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh city on Thursday night. The killing occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions following the death of student protest leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
The Horrific Incident: Beating and Burning
According to police and eyewitness reports, the tragedy unfolded around 9 PM on Thursday. An angry crowd allegedly caught Das, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. The mob then proceeded to beat him to death on the spot. In a further act of brutality, the assailants dumped his body on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, poured kerosene on it, and set it ablaze. The gruesome act brought traffic on the crucial highway to a standstill.
Eyewitness accounts cited by Bangladeshi news outlet Barta Bazar state that the blasphemy allegations spread rapidly within the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory, where Das worked, and the surrounding Dubalia Para area of Bhaluka Upazila. The mob attack followed swiftly. The victim's father, Ravilal Das, described the horrific scene to NDTV, stating, "They tied the burnt torso and head outside. It was horrible." Dozens were reportedly seen celebrating the lynching.
Who Was Dipu Chandra Das?
The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, hailed from the Hindu community and was a resident of Mymensingh. He was employed as a worker at the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory, a garment unit located in the Square Masterbari area of Dhaka. At the time of the attack, he was living as a tenant in the Dubalia Para area.
Government Response and Arrests
The interim Bangladesh government has strongly condemned the killing. On Saturday, interim chief Yunus announced via social media that seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the lynching. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-14) conducted operations to apprehend the individuals.
The arrested suspects were identified as Md Limon Sarkar (19), Md Tarek Hossain, Md Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38), and Md Miraj Hossain Akon (46). In an official statement in Bangla, Yunus's press secretary Shafiqul Alam said, "There is no place for this kind of violence in New Bangladesh. No one involved in this brutal crime will be exempted."
The lynching of Dipu Chandra Das adds to the climate of unrest in Bangladesh, where violent protests had already gripped the nation following the assassination attempt on Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in last year's massive student uprisings that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
