Argus News - Hindu Man Lynched In Bangladesh Amid Anti India Protests

Dhaka, Dec 19: Amid anti-India protests in Bangladesh, a young Hindu man was killed in a mob lynching in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district over allegations of insulting Islam.

The deceased was identified as Dipu Chandra Das (30).

After beating Das to death, angry protestors set the body on fire, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

The incident happened as violent protests gripped Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the July Uprising. The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has strongly condemned the lynching of the Hindu man, saying there is no place for such violence in a new Bangladesh. It vowed that those responsible for the heinous crime would not be spared.

Citing local and eyewitness sources, local news outlet 'Barta Bazar' reported that Dipu was accused of making derogatory comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad during an event at the factory marking World Arabic Language Day.

The allegations quickly spread through the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in the Square Masterbari area, where Das worked, and the surrounding community.

Das was subsequently beaten to death at the scene by an angry crowd. Following his death, the mob escalated the violence by tying his body to a tree, beating it, and eventually setting it on fire. The crowd then moved the body to the nearby Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and set it ablaze again, disrupting traffic and causing panic among residents.

Md Firoz Hossain, the executive officer of the Bhaluka Upazila region, confirmed that a person was killed over allegations of insulting the Prophet. “The victim’s body is in police custody,” Hossain said. The attack prompted heightened tensions and a temporary halt of traffic on the major highway.

Rise Of Anti-India Sentiment In Bangladesh
Tension and sporadic violence spread across Bangladesh on Friday following the death of a radical Islamist leader, with protesters targeting major media outlets and a historic political site.

The unrest was triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, an outspoken critic of India and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Protesters vandalized the offices of leading newspapers 'The Daily Star' and 'Prothom Alo', which they accuse of pro-India bias. A group also attacked the already demolished structure at 32 Dhanmandi in Dhaka, the former residence of the country's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In recent months, Islamist groups have held regular protests outside these newspapers, blaming them for maintaining close ties with India. They have also accused both Rahman and his daughter, ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, of being subservient to Indian interests during their rule.

Hadi was a fierce critic of India and Hasina, whose 15-year tenure ended last year. The 'Inqilab Moncho' group, formed after Hasina's ouster, has been organizing street campaigns denouncing her and Indian influence.

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Since Hasina fled to self-imposed exile in India, the Inqilab Moncho group has actively promoted anti-Indian sentiment in the Muslim-majority nation. Bangladeshi authorities have deployed additional security forces in response to Friday's vandalism. No immediate casualty figures or arrests were announced.

This story is compiled by Satabhisa Jena.