DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Hindu factory worker was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district after allegations that he had made derogatory remarks about Islam, according to local media reports, triggering widespread tension in the area.
The incident occurred Thursday night at the Pioneer Knit Composite Factory in Bhaluka Upazila, located in the Square Masterbari area. The victim was identified as Dipu Chandra Das, 30, a factory employee and resident of Tarakanda Upazila in Mymensingh.
According to accounts cited by Bangladeshi Bengali-language outlet Barta Bazar, Das was accused of making insulting comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad during an event at the factory marking World Arabic Language Day. The allegations quickly spread among workers and nearby residents, escalating tensions inside the facility.
Eyewitnesses said Das was assaulted by an angry crowd and died at the scene. The violence reportedly intensified after his death, with the mob taking his body to the Square Masterbari bus stand, tying it to a tree, beating it while shouting slogans, and setting it on fire. The crowd later moved the body to the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway, where it was set ablaze again, causing traffic disruptions and panic among local residents.
Authorities temporarily halted traffic on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway as tensions remained high in the area.
Bhaluka Upazila Executive Officer Md. Firoz Hossain confirmed that a person was killed over allegations of insulting the Prophet and said the body has been taken into police custody.
The killing drew sharp condemnation from political figures. Former Bangladesh minister and Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat denounced the incident, warning that the country is moving toward increasing radicalization under the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
The lynching comes amid broader regional and international concern over security conditions in Bangladesh. Earlier this week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah to convey New Delhi’s concerns about the deteriorating security environment in the country.
Bangladesh has seen a surge in violence targeting religious minorities, including Hindus, under the Yunus-led interim administration, drawing criticism from human rights groups and sparking outrage both domestically and abroad. (Source: IANS)
