In a shocking incident highlighting the precarious security for minorities, a Hindu businessman who also served as the acting editor of a local newspaper was brutally gunned down in broad daylight in Bangladesh's Jessore district on Monday, January 5.
Close-Range Execution in Market Area
The victim, identified as 38-year-old Rana Pratap Bairagi from Arua village in Keshabpur upazila, was targeted around 5:45 pm at the bustling Kapalia Bazaar in Monirampur upazila. According to police and local media reports, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle, called Bairagi out from his ice-making factory, and led him to a nearby alley in front of the Kapalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre.
There, the attackers executed him at point-blank range before fleeing the scene. Bairagi succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Gruesome Details of the Murder
Monirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Rajiullah Khan provided chilling details of the crime. "Bairagi was shot three times in the head and his throat was slit," Khan told the Bangla-language daily Prothom Alo. The police confirmed the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
While the motive behind this targeted killing remains unclear, authorities revealed that four separate cases had been registered against Bairagi across two police stations in the past. Specific details of these cases were not immediately available.
Victim Was a Businessman and Media Professional
Rana Pratap Bairagi was a known figure in the local community, balancing entrepreneurship with journalism. He owned and operated an ice factory in the Kapalia Bazaar market. Simultaneously, he held the position of acting editor for 'Dainik BD Khabar', a newspaper published from the neighbouring Narail district.
Police have launched a full-scale investigation to identify the perpetrators and uncover the reason behind this brutal attack. No arrests have been made so far.
Part of a Disturbing Pattern of Violence
This murder is not an isolated event but appears to be the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting members of Bangladesh's Hindu community in recent weeks:
- January 3: Khokon Chandra Das (50) died after being brutally attacked, hacked, and set on fire.
- December 24: Amrit Mondal was lynched in Rajbari’s Pangsha upazila over allegations of extortion.
- December 18: Dipu Chandra Das (25) was lynched and his body set ablaze in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy.
- December 23: Unidentified attackers set fire to the home of Hindu expatriate workers Shukh Shil and Anil Shil in Raojan near Chattogram.
The killing of Rana Pratap Bairagi has sent shockwaves through the community, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of religious minorities in the region. The investigation continues as pressure mounts on authorities to deliver justice and prevent further escalation of violence.
