Another member of Bangladesh’s Hindu community has lost his life, taking the number of fatal attacks on Hindus to six within just 18 days, as concerns over security and unrest continue to grow across the country.
The latest incident involved Mani Chakraborty, a grocery trader who was killed late on Monday night at Charsindur Bazar in the Narsingdi district. According to local residents, Chakraborty was running his shop in the busy marketplace under Palash upazila when he was suddenly attacked by unidentified assailants. He sustained critical injuries in the assault and was rushed to a nearby hospital by people present at the scene, but he died either while being transported or shortly after reaching the medical facility.
Chakraborty was a resident of Sadharchar Union in Shibpur upazila and the son of Madan Thakur. Fellow traders at Charsindur Bazar described him as a soft-spoken and familiar face in the market, noting that he had no known personal disputes or conflicts. His killing in a crowded public area has heightened fear among minority communities, many of whom say they are increasingly anxious about carrying out everyday activities such as running businesses or visiting markets.
Local Hindu community members have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing and called for strict punishment. They warned that repeated attacks on minorities are creating a climate of insecurity and deepening fear among already vulnerable groups.
Earlier on the same day, another Hindu man was shot dead in a separate incident in the Jashore district. The shooting took place at around 5:45 pm local time at Kopalia Bazar in Ward No. 17 of Manirampur upazila. The victim, Rana Pratap, 45, was the son of Tushar Kanti Bairagi and a resident of Arua village in Keshabpur upazila.
According to eyewitnesses and police officials, Rana Pratap was present at the market when unidentified attackers opened fire on him at close range. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot. Police personnel from Manirampur Police Station rushed to the area soon after the incident to bring the situation under control.
Confirming the killing, officer-in-charge Rajiullah Khan said police were present at the scene and had begun formal legal procedures, including recovering the body and arranging for a post-mortem examination. He added that an investigation was underway to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
These two killings add to a growing list of violent incidents involving members of the Hindu community in recent weeks. In earlier cases, Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker, was lynched during mob violence, while Amrit Mondal was also reported killed amid the unrest.
In Mymensingh district, Bajendra Biswas was shot dead in another incident. On December 31, Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu businessman, was stabbed and then set on fire by a mob near Keurbhanga Bazar in Shariatpur district. He later succumbed to his burn injuries while undergoing treatment at the National Burn Institute in Dhaka.
