“There Is No Space for Such Violence”: Arrests Continue in Bangladesh Lynching Case

New Delhi: Bangladesh authorities have arrested two more individuals in connection with the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh district, taking the total number of people held in the case to twelve. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the brutal killing that has sparked widespread condemnation.
The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25 year old garment factory worker, was attacked by a mob on Thursday in the Bhaluka area of Mymensingh. He was allegedly targeted following accusations of blasphemy. According to investigators, Das was first assaulted outside the factory premises, later hanged from a tree, and his body was left near the Dhaka Mymensingh highway. The mob subsequently set the body on fire before fleeing the scene.
Police recovered the body and sent it to Mymensingh Medical College for postmortem examination. Following the incident, Das’s brother filed a criminal complaint naming a large group of unidentified individuals for their alleged involvement in the killing.
Authorities have stated that the violence was triggered by claims that Das had made a social media post that hurt religious sentiments. However, preliminary findings by investigators have raised serious doubts about these allegations. Officials involved in the probe have said that no evidence has been found to confirm that Das posted any content or made any remarks offensive to religious beliefs. Factory workers and local residents interviewed during the investigation also reported that they neither saw nor heard Das make any such statements.
Investigators noted that when tensions escalated, Das was reportedly forced out of the factory premises in an attempt to prevent further unrest. Despite this, he was attacked by a crowd shortly thereafter.
The interim government has strongly condemned the lynching, stating that such acts of violence have no place in the country. It has assured that those responsible will be identified and prosecuted under the law.
The incident has once again drawn attention to concerns over minority safety in Bangladesh. In recent months, several incidents targeting minority communities have been reported following political upheaval in the country. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring justice for victims of mob violence.