Indian-origin US Congressman Ro Khanna on Sunday condemned the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man who was killed by a mob in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district earlier this month. Khanna described the incident as “horrific” and urged people to speak out against what the “vile acts of hatred and bigotry”.
In a post on X, the California Democrat expressed his condolences to Das’ family and friends and urged global condemnation of such violence. “We must unequivocally condemn and speak out against these vile acts of hatred and bigotry,” his post read.
Brutal lynching of Das in Bangladesh
The lynching of Das on December 18 occurred amid wider unrest in Bangladesh following the death of anti-India student leader Osman Hadi. Some videos circulating online showed a mob beating Das and later tying his body to a pole and putting it on fire. Financialexpress.com cannot verify the authenticity of the videos circulating online. The horrific videos also showed people standing nearby and recording the gruesome act.
Das’ death has sparked widespread outrage in India and abroad. Protests were organised in major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad condemning the killing and to demand protection for religious minorities in Bangladesh. Several Hindu organisations staged demonstrations near Bangladeshi diplomatic missions.
The incident has also strained India-Bangladesh diplomatic ties. Both countries have summoned each other’s envoys, with New Delhi expressing deep concern over violence targeting minorities. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs called the killing a matter of grave concern and urged Bangladesh to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Netizens react to Khanna’s statement
As Khanna’s statement came days after the incident took place, several users questioned its “relevance”. One user wrote, “This has nothing to do with your constituency or your country, unless your constituency isn’t actually in California and your country isn’t actually the United States.” “Where in the United States is Bangladesh and why should I care?”, another comment read.
A user asked Khanna if he also condemns the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh the same way. “Agreed, his killing was horrific and was condemned by Bangladesh’s government and all major political parties. Those accused of committing this crime have been arrested. Do you also condemn the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader and Parliamentary candidate?” the comment read. Some users also thanked him for speaking out about the lynching and urged Khanna to take this issue forward.
Beyond Khanna, other US lawmakers and international figures like Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, US Representative Suhas Subramanyam and New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar condemned the killing and called for accountability. They highlighted the importance of protecting religious freedom and upholding the rule of law amid rising instability in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have now arrested at least 18 people suspected of involvement in the mob killing of Das. Among the accused, four individuals have already made confessional statements before the court, providing details that authorities are reviewing as part of the probe, Daily Star reported.