Bangladesh Police Nab Key Suspect in Dipu Chandra Das' Murder, 21 Arrested So Far

Bangladesh's detective branch of police has arrested another suspect, Mohammad Yasin Arafat, in connection with the murder of Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. The 25-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon from Dhaka's Sarulia area and is believed to have played a leading role in the crime. According to Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Abdullah Al Mamun, Yasin had been hiding at various madrasas in Sarulia for 12 days after the murder. The suspect, who served as an imam at Sheikhbari Mosque and a teacher at Madina Tahfizul Quran Madrasa, had gone into hiding following the incident. Yasin's involvement in the murder was confirmed through statements from other suspects, eyewitness accounts, and earlier probe findings. Dhaka Metropolitan Police assisted in the arrest, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects in the case. So far, 21 people have been arrested, with 18 sent to jail after completion of remand. Nine accused have given confessional statements, and three key witnesses have also provided statements. Dipu Chandra Das was brutally killed by a mob in Mymensingh on December 18, with his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy. However, eyewitnesses and Das' father have disputed this claim, stating that he was killed over his job. The incident sparked widespread outrage across India, raising concerns about the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh.