Bangladesh: Minorities in protest the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh and call for security and justice

Bangladesh: Hindu religious organizations and minority rights groups held a protest in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday to denounce the lynching and death of Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu man in Mymensingh. They claimed that there was an increase in religious extremism, attacks on minorities, and inaction on the part of the government. This comes as Bangladesh is experiencing fresh unrest and protests over targeted violence.

Several organizations that have long fought against assaults on minority populations gathered at the National Press Club for the rally, which linked Dipu Das’s death to what they called a wider pattern of violence and impunity across the nation.

“Even though we have been protesting for a long time, today’s gathering has a specific context,” one of the protesters said when asked why they were there. Today, religious fundamentalists ruthlessly killed a wholly innocent member of a religious minority group.”

The demonstrator mentioned the victim, saying, “Dipu Chandra Das was employed at Bhaluka, Mymensingh. He just received a promotion as a result of his diligence and commitment.

Before being lynched, the demonstrators claimed that Dipu Das had been wrongfully charged with religious defamation. He was hanged from a tree, beaten to death, and then burned under the guise of religious defamation. The demonstrator said that the event had exposed religious fanaticism and the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, saying, “The entire nation and the world have witnessed this.”

The demonstrators were also angry over what they saw as political players’ and authorities’ inaction. “The media did not adequately report Dipu Das’s terrible murder, and no political party spoke out against it. A protester said, “Not even the main advisor has made a position on this yet.

This demonstrates his inhumanity as a main adviser and how his policies are destroying the nation. “We demand that he be removed from his position immediately,” the protester said.

The demonstrator put the event in a larger perspective by pointing out that assaults on minorities have been common in December, which is often considered as the month of triumph.

“In this month of December, five people from religious minority communities have been killed, including Dipu Das,” stated the demonstrator.

The protester went on to say, “Someone was harassed just for wearing a red thread, a religious symbol, and was labelled a ‘RAW agent.’ We live in this country.” This was in reference to harassment that occurred in Jhenaidah.

“Since January, over 50 members of minority communities have been murdered, and over 40 cases of religious defamation have been filed against them,” the protester stated, accusing the system of failing. Humanity feels ashamed of this.

The demonstrator warned of dire repercussions, saying, “If this persecution and oppression do not stop, the very existence of this country will be at stake.”

Ahead to the elections, worries were expressed regarding the political environment. “Upcoming elections have been notified by the administration. The demonstrators pointed to what they called insufficient political representation for minorities and expressed worry about whether religious minorities would be able to exercise their right to vote freely.

“You are setting an example of a civilized nation, where a person is publicly burnt alive by hanging from a tree,” said another protester, who criticized what they called governmental inactivity.

Informing the crowd that agitation would continue, “From now on, every day we will demand each DC office, district administration, and police department for a tree, so that they can remember that when the tree grows up, a body of someone from the minority community will hang from it if they fail to take proper measures.”

The demonstrator’s direct appeal to the government, “Just give us security and justice,” reflected the demonstration’s main demand for equal rights, accountability, and protection for Bangladesh’s minority populations.

Following days of deadly turmoil last week, Dhaka is experiencing an uncomfortable quiet while protests and outcry over Dipu Das’s death take place.

The situation worsened after Sharif Osman Hadi, a young activist involved in last year’s July uprising and convenor of Inqilab Moncho, was shot at close range on December 12 while riding in a rickshaw in the Bijoynagar area of Dhaka. Hadi died on December 18 after being airlifted to Singapore for medical treatment.

As demands for justice grew, people gathered at the Shahbagh crossroads in Dhaka after Hadi’s killing, sparking demonstrations and instability in the city.

In an email conversation with ANI, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina responded to the events by accusing the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus of overseeing an increase in lawlessness and cautioning that the ongoing violence was causing instability in the nation and its regional ties.

“The lawlessness that overthrew my administration and has increased under Yunus is reflected in this terrible killing. “While the interim government either denies it or is helpless to stop it, violence has become the norm,” Hasina said.

Such acts damage Bangladesh’s reputation outside, she said. “India witnesses the mayhem, the repression of minorities, and the disintegration of everything that we have created together. Your credibility on the global scene crumbles when you are unable to uphold fundamental order inside your own boundaries. In Yunus’s Bangladesh, this is the reality.

Hasina accused the administration of collaboration and raised worries about the increasing power of extremist Islamist parties. “Yunus has placed extremists in cabinet positions, released convicted terrorists from prison, and allowed groups linked to international terrorist organisations to take roles in public life,” she said.

“This should alarm not only India, but every nation invested in South Asian stability,” Hasina said, pointing out that Bangladesh’s secular political identity was being undermined.

Hasina voiced worry about the strained India-Bangladesh ties amid anti-India riots and the death of Dipu Das, tying local instability to diplomatic repercussions.

“The strain you are witnessing is entirely of Yunus’s making,” she remarked, blaming the interim administration. His administration lets radicals control foreign policy, makes derogatory remarks about India, and does not defend religious minorities.

Hasina reaffirmed the closeness of the two countries, saying, “India has been Bangladesh’s most reliable ally and partner for many years. Our countries have strong, basic relationships that will last beyond any short-term administration.

Her comments coincided with reports of riots, vandalism, and assaults on media outlets around Bangladesh, as well as the announcement by the Indian Visa Application Centre in Chittagong that visa services would be suspended due to a security problem.

“This hostility is being manufactured by extremists who have been emboldened by the Yunus regime,” Hasina added, describing India’s worries as legitimate.

“A responsible government would defend diplomatic missions and bring legal action against those who pose a threat to them,” she said. Rather, Yunus labels hooligans warriors and provides them immunity.