Paramilitary officer beaten to death in Bangladesh amid rise in mob lynchings

In another incident of mob violence in Bangladesh, a member of the elite paramilitary force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was beaten to death by a group of suspected criminals in Chittagong.

According to local media reports, the incident took place on Monday when a RAB team reached the area to conduct an operation. An unruly mob reportedly attacked the personnel and took several officers hostage during the confrontation.

Three other RAB members sustained injuries in the attack.

The deceased officer has been identified as Abdul Motaleb, a deputy assistant director of the Rapid Action Battalion.

The killing comes amid a growing number of mob lynching incidents reported across Bangladesh since mid-December. Most of the reported cases have targeted members of religious minorities, particularly Hindus.

On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment factory worker, was lynched and later set on fire by a mob in the Mymensingh district following allegations of blasphemy.

At least 21 individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder. The prime accused, Yasin Arafat, a former Islamic religious instructor, was detained earlier this month. Authorities believe he played a key role in organising and executing the attack.

In the weeks following Das’s killing, at least five other Hindu men were murdered either in mob lynchings or targeted attacks across the country.

Amrit Mondal was beaten to death by villagers in Rajbari district over allegations of extortion, while Bajendra Biswas was shot dead in Mymensingh.

On New Year’s Eve in Shariatpur, a mob attacked and set fire to Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das. He later died while undergoing treatment in Dhaka.

In Naogaon district, a 25-year-old Hindu man drowned after jumping into a pond while attempting to escape a group of locals chasing him on suspicion of theft.

Last week, Liton Chandra Das, a trader who owned a hotel and confectionery shop, was beaten to death in the Kaliganj area after a minor argument escalated into violence. He was attacked by a group of customers and later succumbed to his injuries.