The family of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man who was beaten to death and whose body was later set on fire on Thursday night, December 18, in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh, has rejected the allegation of blasphemy that preceded the attack, saying the claim was false and led to mob violence.
According to police and local sources, Dipu was accused of making derogatory remarks about religion near the Pioneer Knit Composite factory in Dubaliapara, where he worked. Tension spread in the area before he was assaulted by a group of people. His body was later hung from a tree beside the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway and set on fire. Police arrived after the incident, brought the situation under control after about two hours, and sent the partially burnt body to the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Dipu had been working at Pioneer Knitwears BD Limited in the Jamirdia area of Bhaluka for two years and was the son of Rabi Chandra Das of Tarakanda upazila. Bhaluka Model Police Station OC Zahedul Islam said Dipu was beaten to death following an allegation of blasphemy and that police were initially unable to control the situation due to the size of the crowd.
Speaking after the incident, Dipu’s wife Meghna Rani said the family has been left without support. “My only child is now fatherless. I don’t know where I will go with my impoverished family. I want justice for this murder,” she said. Dipu’s sister Champa Das denied the allegation, saying he was a BA graduate with sufficient knowledge about religion and would not make such remarks. She alleged he was falsely accused following a workplace dispute and could have been handed over to police instead of being attacked. A complaint was filed on Friday by Dipu’s younger brother Opu Chandra Das at Bhaluka Model Police Station, police confirmed.
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