Main Accused Arrested in Dipu Das Lynching Case, Bangladesh Police Say He Incited Mob

Bangladesh police have arrested the prime accused in the brutal lynching of Hindu garment worker Dipu Das, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread national and international condemnation amid growing concerns over minority safety in the country.

The arrest was made in connection with the December 18 killing of the 27-year-old worker in the Mymensingh region. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Yasin Arafat, a former religious teacher, played a central role in instigating and directing the mob that attacked Das following allegations of blasphemy.

According to investigators, Dipu Das was forced to resign from his garment factory job on the day of the incident. He was then pushed out of the workplace and handed over to a mob, where he was subjected to extreme violence. The crowd reportedly beat him, dragged him through public areas, hanged him from a tree, and later set his body on fire. Police said several individuals, including co-workers, participated in the attack.

Officials stated that Arafat incited the gathering, used his local influence to mobilise people quickly, and escalated the situation into a fatal assault. Investigators allege that he not only encouraged the mob verbally but also physically participated in the violence, including dragging the victim to a public intersection where the lynching took place.

After the killing, Arafat reportedly fled the area and went into hiding. He was tracked down and arrested following sustained police efforts. Authorities are now examining whether his role as a religious instructor enabled him to exert influence over the local population and whether such influence had been misused in the past.

With his arrest, the total number of people taken into custody in the Dipu Das lynching case has risen to 21. Police have confirmed that further investigations are ongoing to identify any additional individuals involved, including those who may have aided or encouraged the violence indirectly.

The case has intensified scrutiny of mob violence and religious extremism in Bangladesh, especially following a series of violent incidents targeting members of the Hindu community in recent weeks. In the days following Dipu Das’s death, at least five other Hindu men reportedly lost their lives in separate incidents across the country.

These included fatal assaults, shootings, and arson attacks in districts such as Rajbari, Shariatpur, Jessore, and Naogaon. In one case, a Hindu businessman succumbed to injuries after being stabbed and set on fire, while another man drowned while attempting to escape a pursuing crowd.

Human rights observers have expressed alarm over the pattern of violence, urging authorities to ensure swift justice and stronger protections for religious minorities. The Bangladesh Police have reiterated that the Dipu Das case is being treated with seriousness and that accountability will be enforced through the legal process.

The arrest of the main accused is being viewed as a critical step, but concerns remain over the broader climate of intolerance and the need for systemic measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.