Congress MP for Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, has condemned the burning of a Hindu youth allegedly for defaming Islam.
In a post on X on Saturday, Tharoor said that it was an unbearably tragic incident amid the mob rule that is raging across Bangladesh.
“While mourning the loss of this poor Hindu man at the hands of unspeakable criminals, I appreciate the condemnation issued by the Government of Bangladesh, but must ask them what they are doing to punish the murderers, and what steps they are taking to ensure that such incidents do not recur? [sic]”
Two days after the brutal murder, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said on Saturday that the elite force had detained seven suspects in connection with the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, 27, a supervisor at a garment factory in Bhaluka, Mymensingh.
On Friday, amid severe criticism for the inaction of the army and police personnel, the interim government said: “We wholeheartedly condemn lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crimine will not be spared.”
Regarding the targeted mob attacks and arson at the offices of the daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, Tharoor said that those were “more than just an assault on two media houses; they are an assault on the freedom of the press and the very foundation of a pluralistic society.”
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He added that the forced suspension of visa services at the Indian Assistant High Commissions in Khulna and Rajshahi, driven by escalating security threats, is a major setback. “This disruption directly impacts students, patients, and families who were finally seeing a glimpse of normalization in cross-border mobility.”
He said that with national elections scheduled for February 12, “this atmosphere of violence and intolerance bodes ill for the democratic process.”
For a stable and prosperous neighbourhood, the Congress MP demanded that the interim government ensure protection of journalists, security of diplomatic missions and restoration of calm.
“Journalists should not have to post frantic messages for their lives while their offices burn. Mob rule must not be allowed to prevail.
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“Diplomatic facilities must remain safe zones, to maintain vital people-to-people ties. Extra protection must be provided for targeted embassies & consulates.
“Constructive dialogue must replace ochlocracy if the country is to survive this transition with any semblance of democracy. Interim Chief Mohammed Yunus must take the lead personally to ensure this.”
He added: “Stability in Bangladesh is vital for the entire region. We hope for a return to peace and a safe environment where the voice of the people is heard through the ballot, not through violence and intimidation.”
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