‘No one saw or heard anything’: No evidence of Blasphemy in lynching of Hindu man in Bangladesh, probe says

No evidence of blasphemy in lynching of Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh: Probe

There is no direct evidence that Dipu Chandra Das, the Hindu garment worker lynched in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy, made any remark that hurt religious sentiments, investigators have found.

Das, 25, was beaten to death by a mob outside a garment factory in Bhaluka after rumours spread that he had made derogatory comments about Islam. His body was later hung from a tree on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and set on fire, with videos of the brutal act circulating widely on social media.

A Company Commander of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bangladesh’s counterterrorism force, told The Daily Star that investigators found no evidence suggesting Das had written anything offensive on Facebook or elsewhere.

“Everyone is now saying that they did not personally hear him say anything of that sort. No one has been found who claims to have heard or seen anything themselves hurting religion,” said Md Samsuzzaman.

He added that local residents and Das’s colleagues at the factory were also unable to point to any blasphemous activity. According to local media reports, a rumour alleging that Das had insulted Prophet Muhammad triggered unrest among factory workers.

Alamgir Hossain, the factory’s floor in charge, told Prothom Alo that workers demanded Das’s dismissal as tensions escalated. “The labourers demanded that Das must be sacked. A mob had gathered outside the factory. To keep the situation under control, Das was relieved of his duties. We tried to save him, but the situation was volatile. The mob then beat him to death.”

Officials said Das was forced out of the factory late Friday night in an attempt to protect the establishment as the crowd gathered. He was then attacked with sticks and locally made weapons, killed, and his body was set on fire.

So far, ten people have been arrested in connection with the lynching. The Rapid Action Battalion confirmed the arrest of several suspects following raids at multiple locations, while police said a case has been registered and further interrogations are underway.

The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government condemned the killing, calling it an act of inhuman violence. “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 office of Chief Advisor Yunus said.

The killing has sparked widespread outrage among minority communities in Bangladesh and political circles in India, amid concerns over the safety of Hindus following recent unrest in the country. Several rights groups, including the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Communist Party of Bangladesh, have demanded swift arrests and exemplary punishment for those responsible.