Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Bangladesh interim government on Tuesday said it will take full responsibility for the welfare of the family of a Hindu garment worker who was lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy last week, as outrage continues to simmer across the country over the brutal killing.
Education adviser C R Abrar met the family of 25-year-old Dipu Das in Mymensingh and assured them of state support. Das was beaten to death by a mob on December 18, after which his body was set on fire, an incident that has triggered nationwide protests and drawn international concern.
“The state has taken the responsibility of taking care of Dipu Das’s child, wife and parents,” Abrar said, describing the killing as a “brutal crime with no excuse.” He added that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had instructed him to personally convey the government’s “profound sorrow and deepest condolences” to the bereaved family.
Das’s father, Rabi Chandra Das, demanded justice for his son and informed the adviser about the family’s deteriorating condition following the incident. The Chief Adviser’s office later reiterated that financial and welfare assistance would be provided and that relevant authorities would remain in close contact with the family in the coming days.
So far, twelve people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the lynching. In a statement, Yunus’s press wing said that allegations, rumours or differences of belief could never justify violence, stressing that no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands.
“The government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the rule of law. The authority to investigate alleged offences and ensure justice through due process rests solely with the state,” the statement said.
The killing has sparked widespread protests by factory workers, students and rights groups in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh. India has also conveyed its concerns over the safety of minorities in the neighbouring country.
The mob attack came amid a volatile period in Bangladesh, coinciding with the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the radical right-wing cultural group Inqilab Mancha. Hadi died in a Singapore hospital six days after being shot by masked assailants in Dhaka. Following his death, fresh unrest broke out, with mobs torching offices of leading newspapers Daily Star and Prothom Alo, along with prominent cultural organisations Chhayanot and Udichi Shilpi Goshti.
Authorities have appealed for calm, even as security remains heightened in several parts of the country.
