‘It’s impossible’: Locals defend Biplob, say he was framed 

Since his childhood, Biplob Chandra Baidya has been known as a well-mannered and decent boy by his fellow villagers. He has never been known to abuse anyone. He has Muslim friends and has good relations with his neighbours.

So when he was accused of defaming Allah and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on Facebook, it took the local people by surprise.    

Neighbours said there was no way he could made those derogatory comments.  

They said Biplob was a victim of a conspiracy but they could not say who framed him. 

Biplob's friend Kartik told The Business Standard that Biplob has many Muslim friends and has never made any insulting remarks on Islam or any other religion. 

"He never posted anything criticising others on Facebook. It is impossible that he made abusive comments on religion," said Kartik. 

"If he did something like that, we demand that he receive punishment," he added.

Neighbour Gani Mia said he does not know any boy as good as Biplob in the village. 

"He [Biplob] could not have done it. Even if he did it, he was forced to do it or it was a conspiracy," he added. 

A friend of Biplob who wished to remain anonymous said Biplob had connections with Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), a Hindu religious organisation.

"I am sure Biplob did not post the comment on his Facebook account on a whim. He was definitely forced to or someone wants to make it look like he did it," he said.

Biplob, who denied the allegations against him, has maintained that his Facebook account was hacked. He also filed a general diary with Borhanuddin Police Station on October 17. 

Biplob completed his secondary education in 2010 from Kulsum Rahman High School, and higher secondary from Hafiz Ibrahim College in Borhanuddin in 2012.

He finished his Bachelor degree (pass) and certificate course from Najiur Rahman Degree College in Bhola Sadar upazila this year. 

Biplob lives in a precarious tin-roofed house in ward 2 of Kachia union in Borhanuddin. He has two brothers and a sister. The brothers live in Oman where they are working and the sister is married. 

His father Chandra Mohon Baidya is a farmer and mother Bashonti Rani is a homemaker. What happened to their son has left them emotionally devastated.

Chandra said he worked as a day-labourer when Biplob was still in school.

"I sometimes skipped meals and sacrificed my needs to support him. Now I am sick. My other sons now support him," he said.

Chandra said it was his dream that Biplob would get a good job. "But now he is in prison. I cannot tolerate it."

Like neighbours, the father also believes his son is a victim of a conspiracy. He urged the authorities to find out the real culprits.  

"I do not know Iskcon or any other organisation. I just want my son back," Chandra told The Business Standard.

Biplob's mother Bashonti said she raised her son to always be respectful of others.  

"Even if he [Biplob] posted the comment, he must have been coerced into doing so. It is a conspiracy against him," she said. 

Bashonti urged the authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the incident to find out the real truth.   

"If my son really posted offensive remarks, I have no problem accepting that he will be punished," she said. 

The police investigation is not complete yet. Three people, including Biplob, have so far been sent to jail in cases filed under the Digital Security Act.

"We still do not know for sure if Biplob posted the comment. It will take some days to know the real truth," said M Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Borhanuddin police station.