Dhaka: There is no evidence that Dipu Chandra Das, the Hindu man, brutally lynched in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, had engaged in any blasphemy, officials in that country said.
Das, a factory worker, was tied to a tree, beaten, and then set ablaze on December 18. The perpetrators initially claimed that he had said or done things against the prophet.
However, no evidence has been found to support these claims, and no witnesses have come forward to say they heard or saw anything offensive.
Neither Das’ colleagues at his garment factory, nor local residents could point to any actions or statements by him that might have hurt religious sentiments, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials told local media.
Company Commander Md Samsuzzaman of RAB-14 told The Daily Star that investigations have revealed no direct evidence linking Das to blasphemous remarks. Officials confirmed that neither Das’ colleagues at the garment factory nor local residents could point to any activity deemed offensive to religion.
“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,” Samsuzzaman said.
The incident sparked shock and outrage globally. Ten people have now been arrested in connection with the attack. RAB confirmed the arrests after coordinated raids at multiple locations. Police have registered a case, and further interrogations are underway to identify all individuals involved in the violent incident.
“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 Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus stated.
The murder has sparked widespread outrage among minority communities in Bangladesh and political circles in India, who have raised concerns over the safety of Hindus amid rising communal tensions.
