The latest attack marks the fourth incident targeting members of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh in just two weeks, intensifying fear and uncertainty within the community amid rising communal tensions across the country.
BY PC Bureau
January 1 – A Hindu businessman narrowly escaped death after being brutally assaulted, stabbed, and set on fire by a mob in Bangladesh on New Year’s Eve, in what marks the fourth reported attack on members of the Hindu minority community in less than two weeks. The incident has deepened fear and anger among minorities amid a recent surge in violence and lynchings across the country.
The victim, Khokan Chandra, a 40-year-old pharmacist, is battling for his life at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, where doctors have described his condition as critical due to severe burn injuries.
According to local sources, the attack occurred around 9 pm on December 31, when Khokan was returning home after closing his pharmacy shop in Keurbhanga Bazar, located in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district. As he reached the Tiloi area, a group of assailants allegedly waylaid him, dragged him off the road, and launched a violent assault.
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Witnesses said the attackers beat Khokan mercilessly before stabbing him multiple times with sharp weapons. They then poured petrol over his body and set him on fire, leaving him engulfed in flames.
In a desperate attempt to save himself, Khokan reportedly ran and jumped into a nearby pond, extinguishing the fire. Local residents later rescued him and rushed him to hospital. Police have confirmed the attack but said the identities of the attackers and the motive behind the assault are still under investigation.
Another brutal attempt to burn a Hindu youth alive
In Shariatpur, Khokan Chandra, a Hindu youth, was first stabbed in the lower abdomen and then doused with petrol and set on fire. He survived only because he managed to jump into a nearby pond, extinguishing the flames and… pic.twitter.com/gerTabIbdl
— Colonel Mayank Chaubey (@col_chaubey) January 1, 2026
Fear Grips Minority Community
The attack has sent shockwaves through the local Hindu community, many of whom say they feel increasingly vulnerable. Community leaders described the incident as part of a pattern of targeted violence, warning that fear is spreading rapidly among minority households.
“This was not just an attack on one man. It is a message of terror,” said a local Hindu leader, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether the assault was communal in nature, but the timing has intensified anxieties amid a series of violent incidents involving Hindu citizens in recent days.
Fourth Attack in Two Weeks
The assault on Khokan came just a day after another Hindu man, Bajendra Biswas, was shot dead while on security duty at a garment factory in Mymensingh. According to local reports, the alleged shooter, Noman Mia, asked Biswas, “Should I shoot you?” moments before opening fire.
Both Biswas and the accused were members of the Ansar Bahini, a paramilitary auxiliary force under Bangladesh’s Home Ministry tasked with community policing. They were among a group of 20 guards deployed at Sultana Sweaters Limited when the shooting occurred.
Earlier last week, Amrit Mondal, a Hindu man, was lynched by a mob over allegations of extortion. Days before that, Dipu Chandra Das, a factory worker, was beaten to death following accusations of blasphemy—an incident that drew sharp condemnation from human rights groups and international observers.
Political Tensions and Aftermath
The recent spike in violence follows unrest sparked by the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a controversial youth leader whose murder triggered protests across Bangladesh. Demonstrations over Hadi’s death have taken on a strongly anti-India tone, with allegations that his killers fled across the border.
Analysts say the charged political atmosphere has created conditions where minorities are increasingly vulnerable, often becoming easy targets during periods of unrest.
India has expressed grave concern over what it described as “unremitting hostility” toward religious minorities in Bangladesh, urging Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of all communities.
Human rights organisations have demanded swift arrests and transparent investigations into the recent attacks, warning that continued impunity could further embolden attackers.
As Khokan Chandra fights for survival, his family remains under police protection. For many in Bangladesh’s Hindu community, his story has become a grim symbol of growing insecurity—and a reminder that fear, once ignited, spreads faster than fire.
