Hindu youth Kankan Biswas was accused by Islamists after the incident at Utsav Mondal

In a disturbing development, radical elements in Bangladesh have targeted another Hindu youth, Kankan Biswas, accusing him of making offensive remarks about Islam. This comes as minor Bengali Hindu Utsav Mondal is battling for his life after being brutally attacked by Islamists in the presence of security forces over similar blasphemy allegations.

According to media reports from Bangladesh, a group of students from Jessore University of Science and Technology protested against Kankan Biswas, a Hindu student at the college. The protests took place on Saturday, September 7. The Muslim students demanded his trial for allegedly insulting Islam.

Biswas, a 2017-18 student at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jessore University, is also the president of the Sanatan Vidyathi Sangsad, a Hindu student organization at the university.

On Saturday, several Muslim students organised a protest march from the main gate of the university to the administration building. During the demonstration, the students submitted a memorandum to the university registrar demanding harsh 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. He was branded a “religious provocateur” and “obscene blasphemer”.

The protesters claimed that Biswas represented “radical Hindutva” at the university and argued that his controversial comments on social media had created an unsafe environment for students. They formed a human chain to underline their demands and stated, “Kankan Biswas is a disgrace in the history of this university. He has made very offensive slurs about Islam, which deeply saddens us.”

In a contradictory statement, the protesters praised social harmony in Bangladesh and said, “Muslims, Hindus and Christians live as brothers in Bangladesh. We will live as brothers in the future too.” However, they warned that after the Biswas incident, no one would dare to criticise any religion on the university campus.

Bangladeshi media also reported that the university's General Sanatani Hindu student group expelled Biswas on August 25 in response to the allegations. The group said it would support any punishment imposed under the Bangladesh Penal Code if the allegations are proven true.

Ongoing persecution: Utsav Mondal charged under Cyber ​​Security Act

Meanwhile, the case of Utsav Mondal, another Hindu youth accused of blasphemy, has further escalated religious tensions. Mondal, a 15-year-old school student, was violently attacked by a mob in a police station in Khulna, Bangladesh, last week. The attack was sparked by allegations of blasphemy. Despite his critical condition, Mondal was charged with hurting religious sentiments under the controversial Cyber ​​Security Act.

The case against Mondal was filed at Khulna Sadar police station on September 5 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 after his discharge from the hospital.