At least seven people have been arrested in connection with the mob lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district amid nationwide unrest triggered by the death of a student political leader.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained seven suspects following raids at multiple locations. Those arrested were identified as Md Limon Sarkar, Md Tarek Hossain, Md Manik Mia, Ershad Ali, Nijum Uddin, Alomgir Hossain, and Md Miraj Hossain Akon.
The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker, was lynched in Bhaluka area of Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. According to police, he was tied up and beaten to death by a mob, after which his body was set on fire.
“On Thursday at around 9 pm, an enraged crowd detained him and assaulted him, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. After killing him, they set the body ablaze,” Bhaluka police duty officer Ripon Mia told an international news channel.
The killing has sparked outrage among minority communities in Bangladesh and drawn reactions from political circles in neighbouring India. Rights groups have expressed concern over the safety of religious minorities following the political upheaval that led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Several attacks targeting the Hindu community have been reported since the interim government assumed charge.
In a statement issued on Friday, the interim government condemned the lynching, asserting that such violence has no place in Bangladesh. “The perpetrators of this heinous crime will be brought to justice,” the statement said.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council also denounced the killing, demanding swift arrests and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
The incident occurred amid escalating unrest following the death of Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Protests erupted across the country, during which mobs targeted media outlets including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Demonstrators also vandalised the partially demolished residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Comments are closed.