On the night of December 18, 2025, in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh, a 25-year-old Hindu garment factory worker named Dipu Chandra Das was dragged from his workplace by a mob. Accused by a coworker of making derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad during an event marking World Arabic Language Day, Das was beaten mercilessly, hanged from a tree, and then set on fire with kerosene while still alive. Dozens reportedly watched, some celebrating the act. His charred body was later recovered by police and sent for autopsy.
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Investigations revealed no direct evidence that Das had made any blasphemous remarks—it was based on rumor and a false accusation. Despite this, the mob’s actions were swift and fatal. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, condemned the incident, stating there is “no space for such violence in new Bangladesh” and promising that perpetrators would not be spared. By December 21, 2025, authorities had arrested 12 suspects, with operations conducted by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police.
This lynching occurred amid nationwide unrest triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent anti-India student leader from the 2024 uprising, who died in Singapore from gunshot wounds. Protests escalated into violence, including attacks on media offices and cultural institutions in Dhaka. Yet, the targeted killing of a Hindu man stood out as a stark example of communal tension.
The Religious Dimension: Blasphemy as a Weapon Against Minorities
Blasphemy accusations have long been weaponized in Bangladesh, particularly against religious minorities like Hindus. False claims often lead to mob violence, with little need for evidence. The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) documented 73 blasphemy-related incidents across 32 districts from January to November 2025 alone. In Das’s case, police and RAB officials confirmed no proof of insult to religious sentiments, yet the rumor was enough to incite murder.
This pattern is not new. Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, attacks on Hindus have surged. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported hundreds of incidents post-2024, including temple vandalism and targeted assaults. Hindus, often perceived as supporters of Hasina’s Awami League, have become scapegoats in the political vacuum.
Historically, Bangladesh’s Hindu population has declined sharply: from 28-33% in 1941 (pre-Partition East Bengal) to 22% in 1951, 13.5% in 1974, 8.5% in 2011, and 7.95% in 2022—about 13.1 million people. Factors include migration due to persecution, lower fertility rates, and historical violence, such as during the 1971 Liberation War when Pakistani forces targeted Hindus.
Geopolitical Context: India-Bangladesh Relations and Regional Implications
The incident has strained India-Bangladesh ties. India expressed concern over minority safety, referencing protests outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India. Bangladesh rejected this, calling the lynching an “isolated case” and accusing India of exaggerating for political gain. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain questioned how protesters reached a secure diplomatic zone, implying leniency.
Post-Hasina, Bangladesh has pivoted toward Pakistan and China, warming relations with Islamabad while anti-India rhetoric grows. Yunus’s government has downplayed minority attacks, sometimes blaming “Indian propaganda.” This shift threatens regional stability, as radical elements gain influence, potentially affecting India’s northeastern border security and connectivity projects.
Why the Limited International Outrage?
Despite the brutality—videos circulated widely on social media—global response has been muted. Western media like The New York Times and Reuters focused on broader unrest (e.g., media attacks, Hadi’s death) but treated the lynching as peripheral or “unrelated.” The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) criticized this “selective outrage,” noting swift global condemnation for other minorities but silence here.
Reasons include:
- Perceived Bias: Hindu persecution is often dismissed as “Indian propaganda” due to New Delhi’s vocal concerns under a Hindu-nationalist government.
- Political Sensitivity: Yunus, a Nobel laureate, leads a government hailed in the West as a “democratic transition” post-Hasina’s “authoritarian” rule.
- Narrative Framing: Attacks are portrayed as “political” (targeting Awami League supporters) rather than communal, downplaying religious motives.
- Broader Focus: Coverage prioritized protests, arson on newspapers like Prothom Alo and Daily Star, and fears of election delays.
Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been criticized for inaction on this specific case, though they addressed earlier 2024-2025 violence. The UN has not issued strong statements.
In contrast, Indian media (NDTV, The Hindu, Times of India) covered it extensively, highlighting minority plight. Exiled activist Taslima Nasreen alleged police abandonment of Das.
Broader Implications: A Pattern of Vulnerability
Das’s killing is symptomatic of deeper issues. In the first half of 2025 alone, minority groups reported 258 communal attacks. Blasphemy laws, though not formally codified as in Pakistan, are exploited via mob justice. This erodes Bangladesh’s secular foundations, risking further radicalization.
Geopolitically, unchecked extremism could embolden cross-border threats, affecting India and the region. Yet, the lack of unified global pressure allows impunity.
Toward Accountability and Protection
Bangladesh’s government has acted with arrests and condemnations—a positive step. But sustained protection for minorities requires stronger law enforcement, judicial reforms, and addressing root causes like radical propaganda.
The world cannot afford selective silence on human rights. When a life is taken over unproven rumors, and evidence exonerates the victim posthumously, it demands unequivocal outrage. Dipu Chandra Das’s death is not just a tragedy—it’s a warning. Ignoring it risks normalizing violence against vulnerable communities.
Sources Cited:
- NDTV, The Hindu, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Reuters, The Daily Star (Bangladesh), Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reports, Pew Research Center demographics, official statements from Muhammad Yunus’s government.
