In a chilling pre-dawn attack, a violent mob locked doors and set fire to five Hindu homesteads in a Bangladesh village, forcing terrified families to flee for their lives with a stark warning: leave or be killed. The incident in Dumritala village, Pirojpur, has sent shockwaves through the Hindu community, with many now seeing India as their only possible sanctuary.
Night of Terror in Dumritala
In the early hours of Saturday, the Saha family in Dumritala village was jolted from sleep by intense heat and flames engulfing their home. A mob had locked their front door from outside, hurling burning wood onto the roof while chanting slogans and clapping. The family believed they were facing certain death. "It was horror. We thought we were dead," a family member told TOI. The fire brigade arrived only after the fifth house was completely gutted around 5:30 AM.
Miraculously, under cover of smoke and commotion, the Sahas managed to escape the inferno. They fled, knowing they could never return and that their property would be seized. The attack was swift and unprovoked. "We had no enmity with anyone. I know why they did it. They will grab our land," said one villager, too fearful to be named.
A Pattern of Persecution and Land Grab
Survivors directly link the escalating violence against Hindus to the political upheaval following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government in August. They describe a rapid deterioration in communal harmony. "Hindus and Muslims lived peacefully till then. The situation became volatile when Sheikh Hasina fled," explained a Hindu villager.
Locals have begun openly encroaching on Hindu properties, confiscating harvests and fish from farm ponds. "One day simply drove them out and grabbed land. This time, it was our turn," the villager added. The attack has instilled such fear that participation in upcoming polls seems impossible. "Which Hindu would dare vote? We would rather go to India," he stated.
The five households targeted belonged to Amol Chandra Saha, Deepak Krishna Saha, Ashok Kumar Saha, Shamal Krishn Saha, and Parimal Saha. Dumritala village is home to over 550 Hindu families, who now live in heightened fear.
Desperate Plea for Refuge and Political Reactions
Currently sheltering miles from their destroyed village, the displaced families feel trapped. "India is the only saviour," declared one family member, expressing readiness to work as a labourer in India for safety.
The violence has deeply affected refugee families from Bangladesh settled in India's Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts since 1971, many of whom still have relatives in Bangladesh. Dr. Subodh Biswas, president of the Nikhil Banga Samanbay Samiti, criticized the political response. He alleged that despite talk of Hindutva, nothing concrete has been done to secure Hindus in Bangladesh, and the crisis is being used to incite passions for political gain in West Bengal elections.
This attack follows the recent lynching and burning of 28-year-old Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh district, about 300 km away, marking a disturbing pattern of targeted violence against the minority community.
