A Hindu rickshaw puller was reportedly beaten by a mob in Jhenaidah district on Friday after onlookers noticed a sacred red thread (traditionally worn by Hindus) on his wrist and began circulating rumors about his identity and intentions.
According to local accounts, the unidentified man was pulled from his vehicle and assaulted near the Jhenaidah municipality gate by a group of people who attacked him solely because of the red thread on his wrist. Witnesses say rumors quickly spread among the crowd, incorrectly suggesting he might be involved in espionage or other suspicious activity — prompting the brutal assault.
The mob reportedly handed the injured man over to police, and he was taken to the Jhenaidah Sadar police station. He sustained injuries to his throat and chest during the beating. While being taken into custody, the rickshaw puller repeatedly pleaded with authorities to release him, insisting that he was simply a local worker.
The incident comes amid a broader climate of tension and unrest in Bangladesh, where recent days have seen multiple incidents of mob violence against individuals following rumors of religious insult or misconduct. Earlier this week, a separate case in Mymensingh district saw a Hindu man lynched and his body burned by a mob after unverified accusations of blasphemy, prompting national and international outrage. Authorities in that case have arrested multiple suspects and launched an investigation.
Human rights groups and observers have expressed deep concern over the role of rumors and mob justice in these incidents, calling for stronger enforcement of the rule of law and protection for minority communities. The interim government has publicly condemned such acts of violence and urged restraint while investigations continue.
