News Report:
Dhaka/Mymensingh: In a disturbing incident amid rising anti-India protests in Bangladesh, a Hindu man was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district. The victim has been identified as Dipu Chandra Das (30), a factory worker, according to Bangladeshi media reports.
The incident occurred as violent protests spread across the country following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising and a vocal critic of India. Reports said Dipu Chandra Das was accused of making derogatory remarks about Islam during an event at the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in the Square Masterbari area. The allegations reportedly spread quickly, triggering tension among workers and local residents.
Eyewitness accounts cited by Bangladeshi media stated that Das was assaulted by a mob and died on the spot. The situation escalated further when the crowd allegedly carried his body to the Square Masterbari bus stand, tied it to a tree, beat it while raising slogans, and set it on fire. The body was later moved to the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway, where it was again set ablaze, disrupting traffic and creating panic in the area.
Confirming the incident, Bhaluka Upazila Executive Officer Md Firoz Hossain said a person was killed over allegations of insulting the Prophet, adding that the body is currently in police custody and an investigation is underway.
The killing comes amid heightened unrest in Bangladesh, where protests have intensified following Hadi’s death. Several demonstrations reportedly turned violent, with attacks on media houses including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, as well as vandalism at the already-demolished residence of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32.
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government strongly condemned the lynching, stating that there is no place for such violence in a “new Bangladesh.” In an official statement, the government vowed that those responsible for the heinous act would not be spared and appealed to citizens to reject violence, incitement, and hatred.
Observers note that anti-India sentiment has grown in recent months, particularly after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who now lives in exile in India. Groups such as Inqilab Moncho have been organising protests criticising India and the previous government, contributing to an increasingly volatile atmosphere.
