The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has announced that there is no clear evidence that Dipu Chandra Das committed blasphemy. On Saturday, RAB-14 Commander Noyonmul Hasan stated that investigations, including witness statements and CCTV footage, found the allegations “very unclear.”
No one could specify what Das allegedly said, and no prior enmity or direct witnesses have been identified.
RAB stated that the incident began with a workplace dispute around 4pm on December 18, after which the factory’s floor in-charge forced him to resign and handed him over to an agitated crowd instead of ensuring his safety or involving the police.
Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment worker in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, was lynched by a group of people known as the Touhidi Janata mob, who chant Naraye Taqbir.
The attackers were mostly his coworkers at Pioneers Knitwears (BD) Limited and some bystanders; his body was stripped and then hung from a tree on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway median before being set on fire. The brutal killing disrupted traffic and spread panic in the area.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
A total of 10 people have been arrested in connection with the lynching:
– RAB arrested seven, including the floor in-charge Md. Alamgir Hossain, 38, the quality in-charge Md. Miraj Hossain Akon, 46, and workers Md. Tarek Hossain, 19, Md. Limon Sarkar, 22, Md. Manik Mia, 20, Ershad Ali, 39, and Nijhum Uddin, 20.
– Police arrested three others: Md. Azmal Hasan, 26, Md. Shahin Mia, 19, and Md. Nazmul, 21.
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The arrested individuals have been presented in court, with remand applications filed for interrogation. RAB is continuing operations to identify and apprehend others involved, relying on video evidence.
Factory Official’s Account
Arrested floor in-charge Alamgir Hossain claimed tension arose after rumours that Das made derogatory remarks at a nearby tea stall. Workers demanded his dismissal, and a crowd gathered outside the factory. He stated efforts were made to protect Das, but the situation escalated uncontrollably.
Victim’s Family Response
Dipu Chandra Das, married for three years with a 1.5-year-old child, was the family’s sole breadwinner. His younger brother, Apu Chandra Das (the complainant in the police case), denied any blasphemy, stating there is no proof of the allegations.
He demanded justice for the perpetrators and support for the bereaved family, emphasising that even if an offense occurred, it should have been handled through legal channels rather than mob violence. The body was handed over to the family after autopsy and cremated on December 19.
Government and International Reactions
While no army or police personnel acted to prevent the brutality, the jihadist-backed interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, strongly condemned the lynching after more than 16 hours.
The statement said that there is “no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh” and that perpetrators “will not be spared.”
Amnesty International expressed alarm over the incident, condemning mob violence and calling for prompt, independent investigations. Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described it as an “unbearably tragic incident amid mob rule,” appreciating the government’s condemnation but questioning actions to punish those responsible and prevent recurrences. Widespread outrage on social media has highlighted concerns for minority safety in Bangladesh.
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