In a troubling development, radical elements in Bangladesh have targeted another Hindu youth, Kankan Biswas, alleging he made insulting comments about Islam. This comes even as a Bengali Hindu minor, Utsav Mondal, fights for his life after being brutally assaulted by Islamists in the presence of security forces over similar allegations of blasphemy.
According to reports from Bangladeshi media, a group of students from Jessore University of Science and Technology staged a protest against Kankan Biswas, a Hindu student at the institution. The protest took place on Saturday, September 7, with Muslim students demanding his trial for allegedly insulting Islam.
Biswas, a student of the 2017-2018 session from the Biomedical Engineering Department at Jessore University, also serves as the President of the Sanatan Vidyathi Sangsad, a Hindu student organisation at the university.
On Saturday, several Muslim students organised a protest march from the main gate of the university to the administrative building. During the demonstration, the students submitted a memorandum to the university registrar, calling for severe punishment for Biswas. The memorandum accused him of making an “unacceptable and obscene remark” about Islam on social media, and demanded his permanent expulsion from the university, branding him a “religious provocateur” and an “obscene blasphemer.”
The protesters claimed that Biswas represents “radical Hindutva” at the university and argued that his controversial social media comments have created an unsafe environment for students. They formed a human chain to underscore their demands, stating, “Kankan Biswas is a disgrace in the history of this university. He made very offensive insults about Islam, which is deeply saddening for us.”
In a contradictory statement, the protesters praised the communal harmony in Bangladesh, saying, “Muslims, Hindus, and Christians are living as brothers in Bangladesh. We will live as brothers in the future.” They warned, however, that after the Biswas incident, no one would dare to criticise any religion within the university premises.
Bangladeshi media also reported that the university’s General Sanatani Hindu student group expelled Biswas on August 25th in response to the allegations. The group stated that they would support any punishment handed down according to the Bangladesh Penal Code, should the allegations prove true.
Ongoing Persecution: Utsav Mondal charged under cyber security act
Meanwhile, the case of Utsav Mondal, another Hindu youth accused of blasphemy, has further exacerbated the religious tensions. Mondal, a 15-year-old student, was violently attacked by a mob inside a police station in Khulna, Bangladesh, last week. The assault was triggered by allegations of blasphemy. Despite his critical condition, Mondal has been booked under the controversial Cyber Security Act on charges of hurting religious sentiments.
The case against Mondal was filed on September 5th at Khulna Sadar Police Station by Nasir Uddin, a 42-year-old resident of Sher-e-Bangla Road. Mondal is currently undergoing treatment for his injuries and will be arrested upon his discharge from the hospital.
