Bangladesh: Ex-madrasa teacher arrested as main accused in Hindu worker Dipu Das' lynching; 21 held so far

Bangladesh police on Wednesday arrested former madrasa teacher Yasin Arafat, the prime accused in the killing of Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das, according to local media reports.Yasin was arrested in Sarulia, within the Demra police station jurisdiction, with support from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.According to local media, Yasin, 25, son of Gazi Mia and a resident of South Hobirbari in Valuka, allegedly led the mob that attacked Dipu at the factory gate and played a key role in dragging his body to the Square Masterbari area in Mymensingh district and setting it on fire. Yasin Arafat had been serving as an imam at the Shekhabari mosque and had taught at a madrasa for the past 18 months. Following the killing of Dipu Chandra Das on December 18, he went into hiding for 12 days, moving between various madrasas in Dhaka and even securing a teaching role at Suffa Madrasa under a false identity.So far, 21 people have been arrested in connection with the case, with nine detainees giving confessional statements before a court.The arrest came after a prolonged spell of violence in Bangladesh that began with the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old student leader and a key figure in August 2024 uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina's exit from the country.Hadi's death triggered widespread unrest, including attacks on minorities. Dipu was caught in the ensuing mob violence and was killed the same day over allegations of blasphemy.