Last Updated on January 8, 2026 9:06 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh Police have arrested Yasin Arafat, the prime accused in the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu factory worker who was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh district last month, officials said on Wednesday.
The killing took place on December 18 in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, when a group of people allegedly attacked Dipu Das near a factory gate. Police said the mob beat him to death, tied his body to a tree and later set it on fire. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Yasin Arafat, 25, a former madrasa teacher and imam, was arrested in Sarulia under Dhaka’s Demra police station jurisdiction with the assistance of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Investigators said Yasin led the mob that attacked Dipu and played a central role in dragging the body to another location before setting it ablaze.
Following the killing, Yasin went into hiding for nearly 12 days, frequently changing locations and moving between madrasas in Dhaka. Police said he even secured a teaching position at a madrasa under a false identity before being tracked down and arrested.
So far, 21 people have been arrested in connection with the lynching, with nine accused giving confessional statements before a court, police said.
The Dipu Das killing occurred amid a prolonged spell of unrest triggered by the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in the August 2024 mass uprising that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. The unrest has been accompanied by a series of attacks on minorities across the country.
Just days after the lynching, another Hindu man, Khokon Chandra Das (45), was stabbed and set on fire in Shariatpur district on December 31, sustaining critical injuries. India has condemned the attacks, with External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal calling the “continuing hostilities against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, a matter of grave concern,” and urging Bangladeshi authorities to bring those responsible to justice.