Protests erupted in Dhaka demanding justice for the killing of RMG worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and the death of BNP leader Belal Hossain’s daughter Ayesha as a result of an arson attack on their house in Lakshmipur.
On Sunday, the Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal staged a protest march calling for accountability in both cases.
Chanting slogans such as “We want justice,” “Why did the administration stay silent as Dipu burnt to death?” and “There is no place for mob terror in this country,” protesters condemned what they said was a failure to uphold the rule of law.
Addressing the march, President of Chhatra Dal’s DU wing Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahos said the country had yet to keep the promises made after last year’s July Uprising, which culminated in the ouster of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.
“The Bangladesh we envisioned – where Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians can freely practice their respective faiths and work in harmony to move the country forward – has yet to be realised,” the Chhatra Dal leader said.
Separately, students of Jagannath Hall led a silent procession from the hall premises and through the TSC area, demanding that the ones responsible for their deaths be punished to the full extent of the law.
After the rally, Jagannath Hall Union Vice President Pallab Barman accused extremists of exploiting religion to justify violence.
“Every religion teaches peace, yet blasphemous narratives are invented to kill people. Dipu was burnt to death in this manner. And, seven-year-old Ayesha, who was killed as a result of political vengeance, what was her crime?” he asked.
Barman added, “The use of religion to incite mobs has unfortunately become part of Bangladeshi culture. If left unchecked, society will grow increasingly violent.”
In a statement, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) condemned the killings, expressing deep concern over Bangladesh’s worsening law-and-order situation.
The demonstrations come in the wake of rising concerns regarding the investigation into the alleged Lakshmipur arson attack. Despite the fire leading to the death of Belal Hossain’s seven-year-old daughter Ayesha Akter, with his elder daughter Smriti now in critical condition at the National Burn Institute, no case has been filed in connection with the incident.
Lakshmipur Superintendent of Police Abu Tarek said investigators had so far found no evidence of mob violence or the use of petrol, which would suggest that an attack had been carried out.
“No proof of vandalism, mob involvement, or petrol use has been found so far. The family has been advised to file a case, but none has been lodged yet,” he said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
Family members, however, said the fire broke out late Friday night while Belal, his wife, and their children were asleep inside their tin-shed house. They alleged the door had been locked from outside, forcing them to break out to escape the flames. Ayesha reportedly woke up and hid under a bed, where she was burned to death.
The house and its contents were completely destroyed in the blaze.
Two of Ayesha’s sisters – Smriti Akter Salma and Samia Akter Bithi – also suffered burn injuries and were taken to Dhaka’s National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident surgeon at the institute, said Smriti had sustained burns to nearly 90 percent of her body and remains in critical condition in the ICU.
Bithi sustained minor burns and was discharged after receiving primary treatment. Smriti’s uncle, Shahin Alam, said that Belal Hossain also remains hospitalised.
Meanwhile, investigations continue into the killing of Dipu Chandra Das (28), who was beaten and burned to death in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. His family insists the killing was planned and linked to a factory dispute rather than over any religious disagreement.
Dipu’s brother, Pappu Chandra Das, said that Dipu was never one to insult religion.
“The attackers made false allegations to the factory where Dipu was employed. The factory officials could have saved Dipu, but they did not,” he said, alleging that factory insiders were involved in the attack that led to his brother’s death.
Police and RAB-14 have arrested 12 people so far in connection with the incident. RAB-14 Mymensingh commander Naimul Hasan said preliminary investigations found no evidence of offensive remarks that could have hurt religious sentiment.
“We are examining whether there was another motive behind the incident,” he said.
Among those arrested are factory officials Alamgir Hossain (38), a floor manager, and Md Miraj Hossain Akon (46), the quality assurance in-charge of Pioneer Knitwears BD Ltd.
Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al Mamun said authorities are investigating why Dipu was handed over to a mob instead of being protected by law enforcement.
“No one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” he said.
Dipu, a quality assurance supervisor at Pioneer Knitwears, was the sole earner for his family and is survived by his wife and their 18-month-old daughter. A case has been filed by his brother, Apu Chandra Das, in connection with the incident, naming 150 unidentified suspects.
Dipu’s brutal killing occurred inside the factory on Thursday night, after which the father of one’s body was hung from a tree and set on fire on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway. Police recovered the body from the scene at around 2:30am.
