At least seven people have been arrested in connection with the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus said on Saturday. The arrests were carried out by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) following coordinated operations at multiple locations.
In a social media post, Yunus said RAB-14 apprehended seven suspects in the case related to the brutal killing of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Sanatan Dharma adherent, in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh. The arrested individuals have been identified as Md. Limon Sarkar (19), Md. Tarek Hossain (19), Md. Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38), and Md. Miraj Hossain Akon (46).
The incident occurred on Thursday night when Das, who worked at a garment factory in the area, was allegedly attacked by a mob over accusations of blasphemy. According to a report by BBC Bangla, the mob surrounded Das around 9 pm local time and began assaulting him, accusing him of making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad. The attack reportedly continued until Das succumbed to his injuries.
Following the killing, the attackers allegedly tied Das’s body to a tree and set it on fire. Police later reached the spot, brought the situation under control, and sent the body for a post-mortem examination. As of the latest reports, no formal case had been registered, though investigations are ongoing.
The lynching has drawn widespread condemnation and comes amid heightened political and social unrest in Bangladesh. The country has been witnessing protests following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot last week while campaigning ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections. Hadi later died at a hospital in Singapore. He was the convener of Inquilab Mancha and a vocal critic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Authorities say security agencies are continuing their investigation into the Mymensingh killing, while rights groups and community leaders have called for swift justice and measures to prevent mob violence and protect minority communities.
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