Hindu Youth Set on Fire in Bangladesh Over Alleged Blasphemy, Horrified Visuals

A Hindu youth was beaten to death by a mob and his body set on fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district on Thursday (December 18) night. He was beaten and set on fire because people accused him of blasphemy. Media reports, as the country continues to witness unrest and growing concerns over attacks on minorities and media institutions.

This is not an isolated event; after the July revolution last year, Bangladesh’s radical Islamist forces have killed and lynched hundreds of Hindus.

The incident occurred in the Dubalia Para area of Square Master Bari in Bhaluka upazila. Police identified the victim as Dipu Chandra Das, a local garment factory worker who lived in the area as a tenant.

“A group of agitated people caught him and beat him up around 9 pm on Thursday for insulting the Prophet. Then they set his body on fire,” Ripon Mia, duty officer of Bhaluka police station, told BBC Bangla. He said the attackers tied the body to a tree before setting it ablaze.

Police reached the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control. The body was recovered and sent to the morgue of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. No case has been registered so far. “We are searching for his relatives. If they come and file a case, action will be taken according to the law,” Mia said.

The lawlessness is prevailing in Bangladesh, where Islamist forces have almost control over the nation. They are citing slogans like “Allah Hu Alkbar” and “Nara-e-Taqbir” and destroying offices, vandalising museums and killing people.

Violence, Vandalism and Regional Concern

The killing comes amid a wider wave of violence across Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old Radical student leader and a key figure in last year’s uprising. Reports from Dhaka also point to vandalism at the Chayanot premises, where musical instruments and paintings were allegedly broken and burned, highlighting growing concerns over attacks on art, literature and media institutions.

In New Delhi, a parliamentary standing committee on external affairs described the situation in Bangladesh as “complex and evolving” and flagged continued attacks on minorities, media groups and intellectuals. “The political events of August 2024 have created significant instability and uncertainty with incidents of violence, attacks and intimidation of minorities, tribal communities, media groups, intellectuals, journalists, academicians, etc., becoming the norm,” the panel said in a report presented in Parliament.

The Ministry of External Affairs informed the committee that India remains concerned about extremism and attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, while continuing engagement with the interim government and attempting to insulate bilateral relations from recent political developments.