A grocery trader, Mani Chakraborty, was attacked by unidentified assailants while running his shop at the busy market under Palash Upazila. He suffered critical injuries.
Another Hindu man has been killed in Bangladesh, marking the sixth fatal attack on members of the community in just 18 days amid continuing unrest in the country.
A grocery trader, Mani Chakraborty, was killed on Monday night at Charsindur Bazar in Narsingdi district. According to local sources, Chakraborty was attacked by unidentified assailants while running his shop at the busy market under Palash upazila. He suffered critical injuries and was rushed to hospital by locals, but died either on the way or shortly after being admitted.
Mani Chakraborty was a resident of Sadharchar Union in Shibpur upazila and the son of Madan Thakur. Traders at Charsindur Bazar described him as a quiet and well-known businessman with no known disputes. His killing in a public marketplace has triggered fear among minorities, many of whom say they now feel unsafe carrying out daily activities.
Community members have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and strict punishment, warning that repeated attacks are creating insecurity.
SERIES OF ATTACKS ON MINORITIES
Earlier on Monday evening, another Hindu man was shot dead in public in Jashore district. The incident occurred 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.
Eyewitnesses and police said unidentified assailants opened fire on Rana Pratap while he was at the market, leaving him with multiple bullet wounds. He died on the spot. Police from Manirampur Police Station rushed to the scene to restore order.
Confirming the incident, officer-in-charge Rajiullah Khan said police were at the site and had begun legal procedures, including recovery of the body and preparations for a post-mortem examination. An investigation is underway to identify and arrest the attackers.
The two killings add to a list of recent violent incidents involving members of the Hindu community. In recent week, Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker, was lynched during mob violence, while Amrit Mondal was also reported killed in connection with the unrest.
In Mymensingh district, Bajendra Biswas was shot dead in a separate attack. On December 31, Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu businessman, was stabbed and set on fire by a mob near Keurbhanga Bazar in Shariatpur district. He later died of burn injuries while undergoing treatment at the National Burn Institute in Dhaka.
