A team of Supreme Court lawyers has filed a formal petition in the wake of the brutal mob lynching of Dipu Das, a member of the Hindu minority, in Mymensingh on December 18. The petition categorizes the killing as a “catastrophic failure of the rule of law and state accountability.”
The case has been filed jointly by Supreme Court advocates Bikash Kumar Poddar, Faliqul Isba, and Mohammed Sanjar. The legal team has announced it will seek an independent judicial investigation and demand compensation for the victim’s family.
Petition Details Institutional Collapse
The petition presents a stark chronology of institutional failure. It notes that while allegations of religious disrespect were made against Dipu Das, “the police, the judiciary, and religious authorities conducted no verification of these claims. He was never arrested, questioned, or formally charged.”
Instead, the filing states, “he was assaulted in broad daylight and set on fire.” The lawyers argue that law enforcement agencies neglected their constitutional and legal duties by failing to intervene, describing the lynching as “an extrajudicial killing incited by rumor, not adjudicated by law.”
The petition alleges that the mob, which it describes as comprised of Islamic extremists, was allowed to act with impunity. Specific allegations are leveled against local police authorities. The petition contends that “despite evident public unrest and clear threats of violence, the local police, including the Officer-in-Charge of the relevant station, made no attempt to disperse the mob or protect Dipu Das.” It further notes that prior legal notices sent to concerned authorities went unanswered.
Call for High-Level Independent Commission
Lead advocate Bikash Kumar Poddar framed the incident as symptomatic of a deeper crisis. “This transcends a failure to prevent a murder,” Poddar stated. “It represents a systemic collapse that normalizes mob violence and erodes the foundation of the rule of law. A credible and independent commission is imperative for justice and for the nation’s moral and constitutional integrity.”
Accordingly, the legal team will formally request the constitution of a high-level independent judicial commission. The proposed commission would comprise a retired Supreme Court judge, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, a senior police official, and a Supreme Court advocate.
Background of the Incident
The legal action follows the horrific events of December 18, when Dipu Das was attacked at his workplace by a mob of Islamic extremists following unsubstantiated allegations. He was beaten to death, after which his body was publicly desecrated—stripped, hanged from a tree, and set ablaze. The atrocity was witnessed and recorded by a large crowd, with graphic videos circulating widely on social media platforms. His death leaves behind a toddler daughter and a grieving family.
The petition now formally challenges state institutions to address not only the crime itself but also the climate of impunity and institutional inaction that enabled it.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as official responses are received.