The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on Friday strongly condemned the lynching of a Hindu man accused of blasphemy in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, asserting that there is “no place for such violence in a New Bangladesh” and vowing strict action against all those involved.
The killing occurred amid a renewed wave of unrest across the country following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, whose passing has triggered widespread protests and violence.
Victim Identified as Garment Worker in Mymensingh
The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, was a young garment factory worker living as a tenant in the Dubalia Para area of Bhaluka Upazila, police said. According to officials, a group of local residents accused him of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad and attacked him around 9 pm on Thursday.
In a strongly worded statement, the interim government said, “We deeply condemn the incident of beating and killing a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no place for this kind of violence in New Bangladesh. No one involved in this brutal crime will be exempted.”
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Calling for restraint, the Yunus administration urged citizens to remain vigilant against violence allegedly being carried out by what it described as “some isolated terrorist groups.” The statement unequivocally condemned acts of fear, arson, and destruction at a time when Bangladesh is undergoing what it termed a historic democratic transformation.
“We strongly and unconsciously condemn all activities of violence, fear, fire and window destruction,” the government said, warning that attempts to create chaos would not be allowed to derail the country’s path towards peace and stability.
The statement added that honouring the sacrifice of Sharif Osman Hadi required responsibility and a consistent rejection of hate and violence.
Journalists, Media Houses Express Solidarity
The interim government also expressed solidarity with journalists and media organisations whose offices and staff were targeted during the unrest, including The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age.
“To The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and New Age journalists, we want to say—we’re with you. We deeply apologise for the terror and violence you have suffered. The nation has witnessed your courage and tolerance even in the face of terrorism. Attack on journalists means attack on truth. We assure you full justice,” the statement said.
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The lynching came as Bangladesh slipped deeper into turmoil following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the radical student group Inquilab Mancha and a key figure in the July 2024 uprising. Hadi died on Thursday from gunshot wounds sustained during an attack by unidentified assailants on December 12.
His death sparked immediate outrage, with thousands of supporters taking to the streets demanding justice. The protests soon escalated into arson and targeted attacks on institutions perceived as aligned with the former administration or foreign interests.
In Dhaka, mobs set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, trapping dozens of journalists inside. Protesters also targeted the residence of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and several cultural centres.
The unrest has taken on a pronounced anti-India tone, with demonstrators alleging that Hadi’s killers fled to India and demanding the closure of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
