Haadi laid to rest, government claims big action in murder case of Hindu youth; What is the situation in smoldering Bangladesh? Video

The brutal murder of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, Bangladesh on alleged blasphemy charges has created outrage across the country and internationally. Chief Advisor to the Interim Government Mohammad Yunus said on Saturday that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested seven people in this case. This incident not only raises questions on the safety of minorities, but is also raising serious concerns about the increasing fundamentalism in Bangladesh.

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After the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, the situation became so dire that the angry mob tied the body to a tree, beat it and later set it on fire. After this heart-wrenching incident, politics has also heated up and the interim government led by Yunus has come under pressure from all sides.

What is the whole matter?

This horrifying incident took place on Thursday night at Pioneer Knit Composite Factory located in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh. Dipu Chandra Das, 30, worked as a factory laborer and was a resident of Tarakanda upazila. According to local media reports, he was accused of making objectionable remarks on Islam and Prophet Mohammed during the ‘World Arabic Language Day’ program at the factory. As soon as the allegations spread, the atmosphere became tense and the angry mob attacked Deepu. It is being told that he died on the spot.

The havoc did not stop even after death

According to eyewitnesses, even after the death the anger of the crowd did not subside. The body was taken to Square Masterbari bus stand, where it was tied to a tree with a rope, beaten and set on fire amid sloganeering. Traffic came to a complete halt on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway due to burning of dead bodies. Abdul Malek, investigating officer of Bhaluka Model Police Station, confirmed that the body is in police custody and investigation into the case is underway.

7 accused arrested, what did Yunus say?

Mohammad Yunus wrote on The arrested accused have been identified as Limon Sarkar, Tarek Hussain, Manik Mia, Irshad Ali, Nijum Uddin, Alamgir Hussain and Miraj Hussain Akon.

Father’s pain: Dipu’s father told NDTV

Dipu’s father Ravilal Das told NDTV that he first got the information about his son’s murder from social media. He said that we saw all this on Facebook… Then someone told me that my son was beaten very brutally… They tied him to a tree. He alleged that the mob burnt Deepu’s body by pouring kerosene on it. ‘His burnt body was left outside… it was extremely horrific.’

Reactions of government and leaders

The interim government issued a statement condemning the incident, saying ‘there is no place for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The culprits of this heinous crime will not be spared. However, Deepu’s father says that till now the family has not received any concrete assurance from the government. Former minister and Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat alleged that Bangladesh was moving towards “complete radicalization” under the Yunus government.

Taslima Nasreen’s allegation

Exiled writer Taslima Nasreen claimed that Dipu was falsely accused of blasphemy. He wrote that Deepu was a poor laborer and the only earning member of the family. He alleges that the police first took Deepu under security, but later the situation went out of control.

Reaction in India also

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the incident as a “heinous crime against humanity”. Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, while referring to the 1971 war, said that the blood of minorities is being shed today in the country for which Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives. This incident raises serious questions on the security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh. International human rights organizations have also expressed concern over this. Seven arrests may have been made, but the question is whether this will prevent such incidents in future?