“Horrific” Killing: US Congressman Unequivocally Condemns Mob Lynching of Hindu Youth in Bangladesh

Melbourne, 29 December: US Congressman Ro Khanna has strongly and unequivocally condemned the brutal lynching of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh, calling the killing an “act of hatred and bigotry” and urging a clear and firm stand against such violence.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Khanna, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives from California, expressed deep sorrow over the killing of the 27-year-old garment worker and extended his condolences to the victim’s family.

“The killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh is horrific and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. We must unequivocally condemn and speak out against these vile acts of hatred and bigotry,” Khanna wrote.

Dipu Das was brutally lynched on December 18 in Bhaluka, in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. According to media reports, he was accused of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in a Facebook post. A group of workers allegedly attacked him inside a garment factory before dragging him outside, where local residents joined in the assault. He was beaten to death, and his body was later hung from a tree and set on fire.

However, Bangladeshi law enforcement authorities have stated that there is no evidence to support the allegations made against him. Md Samsuzzaman, commander of RAB-14 in Mymensingh, told The Daily Star that investigators found no proof that Dipu Das had posted or written anything on Facebook that could have hurt religious sentiments. Neither factory workers nor local residents could produce any such material during the investigation.

Dipu’s brother, Apu Chandra Das, has filed a case at the Bhaluka Police Station, naming 140 to 150 unidentified individuals as accused in the killing.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across Bangladesh and India, with political leaders, religious organisations, and minority rights groups calling for justice and stronger protection for religious minorities. The killing has once again drawn international attention to the growing vulnerability of minority communities in Bangladesh.