Video Misidentified as Hindu Victim’s Final Moments Sparks Outrage

Videos circulating online purportedly depicting the final moments of a slain Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh have caused significant uproar, particularly in India. These clips, however, do not show the individual, Dipu Chandra Das, but rather a student who was arrested during protests. The video in question originated a month prior to Das’s death, as confirmed by police in Dhaka.

On December 18, 2025, Dipu Chandra Das was killed following allegations of blasphemy in Mymensingh, located north of the capital, Dhaka. The killing sparked widespread protests and drew attention to the rising tensions surrounding minority rights in Bangladesh. An online post shared on December 22 claimed to depict “the last video of Dipu Chandra Das before his death,” showing a man being forcibly removed by police officers amidst a crowd. This misleading video quickly gained traction across various social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Police Clarify the Identity of the Individual

The deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Masud Alam, stated that the man seen in the video is a student from a nearby college, not Das. “My fellow police officers caught him sensing a protester. But we freed him after learning he was a student of nearby Dhaka College,” Alam explained to AFP on December 28. The video misattributed to Das included Hindi-language text asserting the false narrative, further fueling confusion and outrage in India.

A reverse image search revealed that the same video had been published in Bangladeshi news reports on November 18, 2025. The outlet Bhorer Kagoj featured the clip on its Facebook and YouTube pages, titled “What happened to this Dhaka College student?” This earlier report confirmed the identity of the individual as Abdul Momin, who was seen pleading that he was not involved in any protests.

Context of Violence and Protests

The incident surrounding Dipu Chandra Das coincided with heightened tensions in Bangladesh, fueled by growing anti-India sentiment. His death followed a violent period triggered by the passing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader involved in the pro-democracy movements of 2024. The Rapid Action Battalion has stated that there was no evidence supporting the blasphemy allegations against Das and reported the arrest of ten individuals connected to his killing.

The unrest has led to protests in India, where officials have called for the protection of minority groups in Bangladesh. The misinformation regarding Das’s death underscores the volatile climate surrounding religious and ethnic minority rights in the region. As misinformation continues to spread, it is essential to rely on verified sources of information to understand the complex dynamics at play.

Previous reports by AFP have debunked various instances of misinformation related to the unrest in Bangladesh, illustrating the need for accurate reporting amidst increasing tensions. The situation remains fluid, and the implications for minority rights and communal relations in Bangladesh warrant close attention.