Hindu businessman hacked, set on fire in Bangladesh; fourth attack in two weeks

A Hindu businessman has been brutally attacked, hacked and set on fire by miscreants in Bangladesh, police said on Thursday (January 1). This is the fourth such attack on the minority community in the past two weeks.

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The victim, identified as 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, was assaulted near Keurbhanga Bazar in Damudya in Shariatpur district on Wednesday night while returning home after closing his shop, Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported, quoting police. He was later shifted to Dhaka for advanced treatment as his condition deteriorated.

Attackers flee after assault

Das, who runs a medicine shop and mobile banking business, was travelling in an autorickshaw when the attackers intercepted the vehicle and allegedly beat him up, hacked him with sharp weapons and then poured petrol on his head before setting him on fire, the report said.

In a bid to save himself, Das jumped into a roadside pond, prompting locals to raise an alarm. The attackers fled the scene, police said, adding that he was rescued by locals and taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, before being referred to Dhaka due to the severity of his injuries.

Nazrul Islam, a doctor at the emergency department of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, said Das suffered multiple injuries across his body, including a serious wound to his abdomen, along with burn injuries on his face, head and hands.

His wife, Seema Das, said the family could not understand why he was targeted. She claimed that his husband recognised two of the attackers, which is why they tried to kill him.

Attacks on minorities escalate

Damudya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rabiul Haque said two men, identified as Rabbi and Sohag, have been named in the case. “Efforts are underway to arrest them and identify others involved in the attack,” he said.

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On December 18, a 25-year-old Hindu man, identified as Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city. A week later, on Dec 24, another Hindu man, identified as Amrit Mondal, was lynched over alleged extortion in Rajbari town's Pangsha upazila.

India has voiced grave concern over the "unremitting hostility" against minorities in Bangladesh. According to the 2022 census, the Hindu population in Bangladesh is approximately 13.13 million, which accounts for about 7.95% of the country's total population. There has been a spate of violence targeting the minority community in the country in the last few weeks.