Hindu man lynched and body burnt in Bangladesh over alleged blasphemy
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Dhaka: In a disturbing incident of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, a young Hindu man was lynched by a mob in the Mymensingh district on Thursday night over allegations of insulting Islam. Local media reported that the victim’s body was subsequently set on fire.
The incident occurred at the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in the Bhaluka Upazila, triggering severe tension in the area and leading to a temporary suspension of traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a factory worker and resident of the Tarakanda Upazila. According to local reports citing eyewitnesses, Das was accused of making derogatory comments about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad during a factory event marking World Arabic Language Day.
As the allegations spread, tensions escalated rapidly. Das was beaten by an angry mob and reportedly died on the spot. In a gruesome turn of events, the crowd then dragged his body to the Square Masterbari bus stand area, tied it to a tree, and continued to beat the corpse while chanting slogans. The mob later moved the body to the highway and set it ablaze, disrupting traffic and causing panic among local residents.
Md. Firoz Hossain, the Bhaluka Upazila Executive Officer, confirmed that a man was killed following allegations of insulting the Prophet. He stated that the police have taken custody of the deceased’s remains.
The lynching has drawn strong condemnation from political figures. Mohammad Ali Arafat, a former minister and Awami League leader, asserted that Bangladesh is sliding toward "full-scale radicalism" under the current interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
The incident follows a pattern of escalating violence against minorities in the country. On Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner, Riaz Hamidullah, to convey New Delhi's serious concerns regarding the deteriorating security environment for minorities in Bangladesh.
(Inputs from IANS)
