Bangladesh Lynching: Colleagues Forced Dipu Chandra Das to Resign, Handed Him to Mob

Investigators probing the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das have revealed that the 27-year-old Hindu garment worker was betrayed by his own colleagues, who allegedly forced him to resign from his job and then handed him over to an Islamist mob that beat him to death in Bhaluka.

According to officials from Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the police, Das was targeted over vague and unverified allegations of blasphemy. Instead of alerting law enforcement at an early stage, factory supervisors reportedly compelled him to resign and later allowed an agitated mob to take him from the premises.

Authorities said the mob brutally assaulted Das, dragged his body to the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway, tied it up and set it on fire. Investigators confirmed that no evidence has been found to substantiate the blasphemy claims that triggered the violence.

The incident occurred at a garment factory in Bhaluka, where Das worked as a labourer. Officials said the violence unfolded over several hours, indicating planning rather than a spontaneous outburst. CCTV footage and videos reviewed by investigators show a sequence involving forced resignation, delayed police notification and eventual handover to the mob.

So far, 12 people have been arrested, including factory officials and workers. Among those detained are the factory’s floor in-charge and quality in-charge, who were taken into custody for failing to protect Das and for not handing him over to the police.

Addressing a press conference, RAB-14 commander Naimul Hasan said the violence began inside the factory itself. “The victim was forced to resign and then handed over to an enraged mob. No one could clearly explain what the alleged blasphemy was,” he said.

Police officials stated that they were informed too late, despite the situation deteriorating for hours. Industrial Police Superintendent Md Farhad Hossain Khan said a timely call could have saved Das’s life, adding that traffic congestion further delayed law enforcement response.

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen questioned the circumstances of the killing and called for accountability, raising concerns over institutional failure in protecting the victim.

Das, who was married three years ago, is survived by his wife and a one-and-a-half-year-old child. His brother, Opu Chandra Das, has demanded strict punishment for those responsible, stating that even if any offence had occurred, it should have been handled through legal channels.

Police said all arrested suspects have been produced before court and further arrests are likely as the investigation continues. Authorities are examining whether the lynching was driven by false accusations, prior enmity, or organised incitement.