Fresh violence in Bangladesh has once again brought into serious question the safety of Hindus after a Hindu man was brutally lynched by a mob in the district of Mymensingh. The incident took place against the backdrop of widespread unrest following the death of a controversial anti-India and Jihadi activist, triggering protests and attacks in several parts of the country.
The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, was a worker at a garment factory in Mymensingh. He was beaten to death on Thursday night (18th December) after several Islamists accused him of insulting Islam. After killing him, the mob tied his body to a tree, poured kerosene and set it on fire, while several people were seen celebrating the act.
Father learns of son’s death through social media
In an interview with NDTV, Dipu’s father, Ravilal Das, speaking in deep distress, said that he first came to know about his son’s killing through social media. “We started hearing things on Facebook. Then people began telling us he had been badly beaten,” he said. “After some time, my uncle told me they had tied my son to a tree.”
Describing the horror, he said kerosene was poured on Dipu’s body before it was set on fire. “They left his burnt body outside. His head and torso were tied there. It was horrible,” he said, struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Despite the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus condemning the lynching and promising action, the family says they have received no direct assurance. “No one from the government has spoken to us or given any support,” the grieving father said.
Ravilal Das said it was still unclear who exactly led the mob. There are rumours of extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, he said. But nothing could be confirmed so far.
The killing of Dipu Das has once again brought into sharp focus the fragility of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh. With elections looming and with emotions still raw from Hadi’s death, many fear extremist elements are seizing on the unrest to attack those they perceive to be outsiders or ideological enemies.
The lynching incident has contributed to being a grim reminder of the growing insecurity among minorities, and the violence spreads as trust weakens.
