In a significant update to the brutal mob killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, officials from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have revealed that there is no evidence to support the blasphemy allegations that led to his death. Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment worker, was lynched by an enraged crowd in Bhaluka, Mymensingh on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
The Investigation: “A Fabricated Charge”
Despite initial claims that Das had posted derogatory content on Facebook, investigators have found the digital trail to be non-existent.
- No Digital Proof: Mohd Samsuzzaman, a Company Commander of RAB, told The Daily Star that a thorough check of the victim’s social media and phone records yielded no content that hurt religious sentiments.
- No Witnesses to the “Act”: RAB officials stated that not a single local resident or factory worker could point to a specific instance of blasphemy. “No one has been found who claims to have heard or seen anything themselves,” the official added.
- Personal Rivalry? Author Taslima Nasreen and several local reports suggested the allegation was sparked by a trivial dispute with a co-worker, who reportedly incited the mob by shouting fake accusations of blasphemy.
The Timeline of a Tragedy
The incident occurred against a backdrop of nationwide unrest following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
- Accusation: Around 9:00 PM on Thursday, Das was accused of blasphemy outside his factory.
- Forced Out: To protect the factory from the growing mob, management allegedly pushed Das out of the premises.
- The Brutality: Das was beaten with sticks and sharp weapons. His body was then hung from a tree and set on fire on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
- Police Intervention: Police eventually recovered the remains and sent them for autopsy at Mymensingh Medical College.
Arrests and Legal Action
On Saturday, December 20, 2025, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced that 10 suspects had been taken into custody.
- RAB Arrests (7): 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).
- Police Arrests (3): Md. Azmol Hasan Sagir (26), Md. Shahin Mia (19), and Md. Nazmul.
- Current Status: A formal case has been filed, and three of the suspects are undergoing intensive interrogation to identify the primary instigators.
Global and Domestic Outrage
The lynching has drawn sharp condemnation from international bodies and neighboring India.
- Interim Govt Statement: “There is no place for such violence in the new Bangladesh,” a government spokesperson said, describing the act as a “heinous crime.”
- Minority Rights: The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council called for “exemplary punishment” to restore communal harmony.
- Political Reaction in India: Leaders like Shashi Tharoor and the BJP have flagged concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, calling the rise of “ochlocracy” (mob rule) a threat to regional stability.