In a powerful display of global solidarity, financial aid from across the world, including significant contributions from India, has begun reaching the devastated family of Dipu Das, a Hindu man who was brutally lynched in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The family, living in extreme poverty, was pushed to the brink following the tragic incident.
Global Response to a Local Tragedy
A day after members of the minority community in Bangladesh visited Das's grieving family, an international fundraising effort took off. Strangers from countries like India, the United States, and Singapore started sending donations to help the family survive. By Monday, community representatives, responding to numerous queries on social media, opened a dedicated bank account for the Dases to channel the support.
Donations began flowing into the account by evening itself. Kushal Baran Chakraborty, a Sanskrit professor at Chittagong University who met the family, stated, "We have shared the bank account number on our social media handles with a plea to help the family. We are not keeping track of donations now. However, we heard that lakhs have already been donated from people across the world."
A Family Shattered and Struggling
Professor Chakraborty described finding the family members emotionally shattered and in dire financial straits. He revealed that Dipu Das was the sole earning member, working at a garment manufacturing company for a meagre salary. His recent promotion, awarded for good performance, allegedly enraged some colleagues.
Tragically, Das was accused of spreading provocative messages on social media, despite not even owning a smartphone. The family, residing in a makeshift house behind a warehouse under Tarakandi Police Station in Mymensingh, was reportedly stopped from bringing his body home. Chakraborty emphasized, "The family does not have the financial strength to survive even a week... He got married a couple of years ago and has a small child. It will not be possible for the family to survive."
Social Media Mobilizes Support
The call for help gained momentum after Professor Chakraborty posted about his interactions with the family on Facebook. His post was flooded with comments condemning the killing. On Monday morning, he made a direct plea for financial assistance, which triggered an immediate and overwhelming response.
"Soon after, people started to send money to the account and shared the screenshots of the payment. We were overwhelmed," Chakraborty said. This global outreach highlights a collective effort to provide a lifeline to a family facing unimaginable loss and hardship, showcasing the power of digital connectivity in rallying humanitarian aid across borders.
