Dhaka: Violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh has continued unabated, with another shocking incident reported on December 31, when a Hindu man was allegedly attacked and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur district.
The victim, identified as Khokan Das, is a medical shop owner who was reportedly returning home on New Year’s Eve when he was intercepted by a group of people. According to reports, the mob brutally assaulted him, poured petrol on his body, and set him ablaze. Das managed to escape death by jumping into a nearby pond, which helped extinguish the flames.
He was immediately rushed to a hospital, where his condition remains critical. His family members have demanded strict action against the attackers, stating that Das is a simple, law-abiding citizen who had no enmity with anyone.
This incident marks the fourth reported attack on Hindus in Bangladesh in less than a month, raising serious concerns over the safety of minority communities in the country.
Earlier, on December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker, was lynched to death by a mob in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. The attackers reportedly beat him, hung his body from a tree, and later set it on fire. Subsequent investigations revealed that the killing stemmed from a workplace dispute, allegedly fueled by jealousy over his promotion.
In another case, a Hindu man named Amrit Mondal was beaten to death by a mob over allegations of extortion. Additionally, Bajendra Biswas, an Ansar member, was shot in the thigh by a fellow Ansar member, Noman Mia. Biswas later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
The Indian government has expressed serious concern over the rising attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh, which has witnessed widespread unrest since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
However, Bangladesh has rejected India’s concerns, calling them “exaggerated” and “motivated.” In an official statement, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated, or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony.”
Despite official reassurances, the repeated incidents have heightened fears among minority communities and drawn international attention to the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.