A Bangladeshi Hindu man was shot dead by his colleague after being asked, “Do I shoot you?”, in what investigators believe may have been a tragic prank that turned fatal. The victim, Bajendra Biswas, was killed inside a garment factory in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, and the accused, Noman Mia, has been arrested. According to eyewitnesses and preliminary police findings, there was no apparent animosity between the two men, and authorities are now examining whether the killing resulted from reckless behaviour rather than deliberate intent. The incident has drawn widespread attention, especially as it occurred amid growing concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country.
Both Biswas and Noman were members of the Ansar Bahini, a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for internal security and community policing in Bangladesh. At the time of the incident, they were posted as security guards at Sultana Sweaters Limited, a garment factory operated by the Labib Group in the Mehrabari area of Bhaluka upazila. Along with around 20 other Ansar personnel, they had been deployed at the facility on Monday evening when the shooting occurred.
According to reports carried by multiple Bangladeshi media outlets, the two men were sitting together when Noman allegedly pointed his shotgun at Biswas in a seemingly casual manner. Witnesses said Noman jokingly asked, “Shall I shoot?”, moments before the weapon discharged. The bullet struck Biswas in the left thigh, causing critical injuries. There were no signs of a quarrel or hostility between the two before the shooting, according to those present at the scene.
Md Ajahar Ali, another Ansar member who witnessed the incident, told local media that the atmosphere had been normal before the shooting. He said the two men were seated together in his room when Noman suddenly placed the firearm against Biswas’s thigh and made the remark. He added that there had been no argument or provocation, reinforcing the view that the incident may have been accidental rather than intentional.
After the shooting, fellow security personnel rushed Biswas to the Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex for emergency treatment. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival due to excessive blood loss. The sudden death shocked his colleagues and sparked immediate concern among local residents.
Bhaluka Model Police Station officer-in-charge Jahidul Islam confirmed that the accused was arrested soon after the incident. He said that Noman claimed the gun had gone off accidentally while he was joking. Another Ansar member present at the scene reportedly gave a similar statement. Despite these claims, police officials have said they are not ruling out any possibilities and are continuing to investigate whether negligence, recklessness, or any other motive was involved.
Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police Md Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of death. He stated that the accused was taken into custody immediately and that Biswas’s body was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The incident has attracted heightened attention because it comes amid a series of violent attacks on members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, another Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched in Bhaluka following allegations of blasphemy. He was reportedly beaten by a mob, stripped, and later set on fire. A few days later, another Hindu man was beaten to death in a separate incident in the region, further intensifying fears of targeted violence.
These back-to-back incidents have triggered widespread concern over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. Human rights groups and community leaders have called for strict action and transparent investigations, warning that failure to address such incidents could deepen communal tensions and erode public trust in law enforcement.
While police continue to examine whether Bajendra Biswas’s killing was truly accidental or the result of negligence, the case has become part of a broader debate about minority safety, accountability within security forces, and the growing unease surrounding communal violence in the country.
