Bangladesh: Hindu Youth Lynched and Burnt Alive

Mymensingh, Bangladesh — A shocking incident of mob violence has reignited fears over minority safety in Bangladesh after a Hindu youth was brutally beaten to death and his body set on fire in the country’s Mymensingh district late Thursday night. The killing, reported by BBC Bangla, has occurred against the backdrop of escalating political unrest and a growing wave of attacks targeting minorities and media institutions.

The incident unfolded in the Dubalia Para area of Square Master Bari in Bhaluka upazila. Police identified the victim as Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker who lived in the neighbourhood as a tenant. According to law enforcement officials, he was targeted following allegations of blasphemy.

Speaking to local media, Ripon Mia, the duty officer at Bhaluka police station, said a mob intercepted the youth around 9 pm, assaulted him violently, and later tied his body to a tree before setting it ablaze. Police arrived after receiving emergency alerts and managed to disperse the crowd and stabilise the situation.

The charred body was recovered and sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. As of Friday, no formal case had been registered. Police said they are attempting to locate the victim’s family members and assured that legal proceedings would begin once a complaint is filed.

Bangladesh: Interim Government Condemns Lynching

The interim government issued a strong condemnation of the killing in a statement posted on X, marking its first official response amid the ongoing unrest.

“There is no place for mob violence in a new Bangladesh,” the statement said, adding that those responsible for the lynching of the Hindu man would be brought to justice. Authorities described the killing as a heinous crime that violated both the law and the country’s commitment to communal harmony.

The Hindu youth lynching in Bangladesh has intensified scrutiny of law enforcement preparedness as tensions continue to rise nationwide.

Unrest Deepens After Student Leader’s Death

The killing comes at a volatile moment for Bangladesh. Public anger has surged following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old student leader associated with last year’s mass uprising. Hadi, who was shot earlier this month by unidentified assailants, died in hospital on Thursday, setting off large-scale protests across Dhaka.

Demonstrations soon spiralled into violence, with multiple buildings vandalised or torched. Among the worst-hit were offices of leading newspapers, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Journalists trapped inside smoke-filled newsrooms were rescued by firefighters during overnight operations.

Fire services confirmed that at least 27 employees were evacuated from The Daily Star building. The paper’s consulting editor said publication had to be suspended temporarily — a first in its history — due to the scale of the damage. Editors from both outlets described the attacks as a direct assault on press freedom and democratic expression.

Bangladesh: International and Regional Reactions

The unrest and targeted violence have drawn sharp international reactions. The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep concern, urging Bangladeshi authorities to safeguard journalists and ensure accountability for attacks on media houses.

In India, a parliamentary standing committee on external affairs flagged the situation as “complex and rapidly evolving.” In a report tabled in Parliament, the panel highlighted repeated incidents of violence, intimidation, and attacks against minorities, journalists, intellectuals, and tribal communities since political upheavals in 2024.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs informed lawmakers that New Delhi remains worried about rising extremism and repeated attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, while continuing diplomatic engagement with the interim administration to preserve bilateral stability.