No evidence of blasphemy by Hindu man lynched in Bangladesh: Probe

Das was beaten to death by a mob outside a garment factory in Bhaluka, where he worked, after rumours spread that he had made derogatory comments about Islam.

His body was later hung from a tree and set on fire, with videos of the horrific act widely circulated on social media.

A Company Commander of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bangladesh’s counterterrorism force, told The Daily Star that investigators found no proof that Das had posted anything offensive on Facebook or made any blasphemous remarks.

“Local residents and his colleagues at the factory could not point to any such activity,” said Md Samsuzzaman of the RAB.

“Everyone is now saying that they did not personally hear him say anything of that sort. No one has been found who claims to have heard or seen anything themselves hurting religion.”

According to local media reports, rumours alleging that Das had insulted Prophet Muhammad spread rapidly, triggering anger among factory workers. Alamgir Hossain, the factory’s floor in charge, told Prothom Alo that labourers demanded Das be dismissed.

“A mob gathered outside the factory. To keep the situation under control, Das was relieved of his duties. We tried to save him, but the situation was volatile,” Hossain said. “The mob then beat him to death.”

Officials said that when tensions escalated on Friday night, Das was pushed out of the factory premises in an attempt to protect the establishment.

The mob assaulted him with sticks and locally made weapons before hanging his body from a tree on the median of the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway and setting it ablaze.

So far, 10 people have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has strongly condemned the lynching.

“We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared,” the office of Chief Adviser Yunus said.