‘We are not safe here’: Brother of Hindu man lynched in Bangladesh seeks return to India

The brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu youth, in Bangladesh has triggered widespread outrage and once again exposed the deepening insecurity faced by minority communities in the country.

Dipu Das was beaten to death by a mob in Mymensingh city over unverified allegations of blasphemy. After being assaulted outside the factory where he worked, he was hanged from a tree. The attackers later dumped his body along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and set it on fire, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The killing has left his family shattered and fearful for their lives.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Dipu’s brother Apu Das said the family no longer feels safe in Bangladesh and wants to leave the country if support is extended.

“He (Dipu) is left behind by a small child. If we had the facility, we would love to leave Bangladesh now, and if we get help, we would like to go back to India,” Apu said.

He also rejected the blasphemy accusations outright, adding that his brother had repeatedly maintained his innocence.

Apu also told CNN-News18 that his brother kept saying that he insulted no one.

Dipu Das, a factory worker, was killed on Thursday night amid escalating violence in the area that followed the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi. According to police, the mob carried out the attack in public view before setting the victim’s body on fire.

The incident has reignited anger among minority groups across Bangladesh, who accuse the interim government of failing to protect vulnerable communities.

On Monday, Hindu and other minority organisations formed a human chain in Dhaka to protest the lynching and what they described as a pattern of violence, persecution, and state inaction. Demonstrators gathered near the Jatiya Press Club, calling out the government for its inability to stop mob attacks and targeted killings.

Authorities said 21 suspects have been arrested in connection with the lynching, attacks on media offices, and violent demonstrations near an Indian diplomatic mission. Protesters, however, argued that arrests after the fact do little to address the climate of fear gripping minorities.

Strong criticism was also directed at the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, whose assurances of building a humane society were openly questioned by protest leaders.

“He (Muhammad Yunus) claims he will build a humane Bangladesh, but in reality, he is an inhumane chief adviser,” said Manindra Kumar Nath, Joint Coordinator of the Minority Unity Front, while addressing protesters.

Dipu Das’s killing has sparked protests by factory workers, students, and rights groups across the country, while India has formally expressed concern over the incident. For many minority families in Bangladesh, the lynching has reinforced fears that mob violence, religious persecution, and impunity have become a grim and recurring reality.