Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
A young Hindu man was allegedly beaten to death by a mob over accusations of blasphemy in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, after which his body was tied to a tree and set on fire, police said on Thursday night. The incident occurred in the Dubalia Para area of Square Master Bari in Bhaluka upazila on the night of December 18. Police identified the victim as Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker who had been living in the area as a tenant.
According to police, an angry crowd caught Das around 9 pm over allegations that he had made derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). “An enraged crowd caught him around 9 pm on Thursday and beat him to death, accusing him of insulting the Prophet. They later tied his body to a tree and set it on fire,” Ripon Mia, duty officer of Bhaluka Police Station, told BBC Bangla.
Police rushed to the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control. Das’s body was recovered and sent to the morgue of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for autopsy, officials said. No case has been filed so far in connection with the incident. “We are trying to locate his relatives. Legal action will be taken in accordance with the law once a case is filed,” Ripon Mia said.
The killing comes amid continuing unrest in Bangladesh and growing concerns over attacks on minorities and media institutions. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the interim government, which issued a statement on X. “We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared,” the statement said.
The lynching also comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old student leader and prominent figure in last year’s July uprising. Hadi, who was shot by masked gunmen earlier this month, died in hospital on Thursday, triggering large-scale protests in Dhaka and other parts of the country. Rights groups and minority representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over mob violence and communal attacks in Bangladesh, calling for swift investigations and strict punishment of those involved.