A horrific act of mob violence on New Year's Eve has left a 50-year-old Hindu businessman fighting for his life in Bangladesh. The brutal assault, involving beating, hacking, and setting the victim ablaze, has triggered fresh concerns over a disturbing pattern of attacks against minority community members in the country.
The Brutal Attack: A Timeline of Terror
The incident occurred around 9:30 pm on Wednesday in the Damudya area, near Keurbhanga Bazar within the Koneshwar Union of Shariatpur district. The victim, Khokon Chandra Das, a resident of Tiloi village, was returning home in an auto-rickshaw after closing his pharmacy and mobile banking business.
According to reports, a group of miscreants stopped his vehicle on the Damudya-Shariatpur road near the market. They then dragged him out and launched a vicious assault. The attackers reportedly used sharp weapons to hack him before dousing him with petrol and setting him on fire.
In a desperate bid to survive, Das, engulfed in flames, jumped into a nearby pond along the roadside. His cries for help alerted local residents, who rushed to the spot. Their arrival forced the assailants to flee. The locals subsequently rescued Das from the pond and rushed him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.
Critical Injuries and a Family's Anguish
At the hospital, doctors found Das with multiple severe injuries. Dr. Nazrul Islam from the emergency department stated that one abdominal wound was particularly grave. Das also suffered extensive burn injuries on his face, the back of his head, and his hands. Given the critical nature of his condition, he was given first aid and then referred to a hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment later that same night.
The attack has left Das's family shattered and bewildered. His wife, Sima Das, expressed utter confusion over the motive. She revealed that her husband recognized two of the attackers, named locally as Rabbi and Sohag. "He recognised two of the attackers, and because of that, they assaulted him with the intention to kill," she said, as quoted by Prothom Alo. The family insists they have no known enemies or disputes in the area, deepening the mystery behind the sudden and extreme violence.
Police Response and a Pattern of Violence
Mohammad Rabiul Haque, the Officer-in-Charge of Damudya Police Station, confirmed that police acted swiftly after receiving information about the "terrorist attack." He acknowledged that the names of two primary suspects, Rabbi and Sohag, have been identified and that efforts are underway to arrest them. Police are also working to identify other individuals involved in the planning and execution of this gruesome crime.
This attack is not an isolated event. It follows a series of violent incidents targeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh in recent weeks:
- On December 18, a Hindu garment worker named Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh district. His body was then reportedly hanged and set on fire.
- In a separate case, a Hindu youth identified as Amrit Mondal was lynched in Hosendanga village, Rajbari, over an alleged extortion dispute.
These consecutive episodes of mob violence have sparked widespread condemnation and outrage from political leaders, religious organizations, and minority rights groups both within Bangladesh and in neighboring India. They highlight growing anxieties about the safety and security of religious minorities in the region.
The attack on Khokon Chandra Das underscores an urgent need for authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and implement stronger measures to prevent such targeted communal violence. The international community watches closely as Bangladesh grapples with this challenge to its social fabric.
