Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Jan 1: A Hindu businessman was left critically injured after a violent mob attack in Damudya upazila of Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district, raising fresh concerns over the safety of minority communities in the country, according to local media reports.
The victim, identified as 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, was attacked late Wednesday night near Keurbhanga Bazar in Kaneshwar Union. Das, who runs a small medicine shop and mobile banking service in the area, was returning home in a CNG auto-rickshaw after closing his business for the day when the vehicle was intercepted. He was assaulted by a group of miscreants and sustained serious injuries, including burns. To escape the attackers, he reportedly jumped into a nearby pond, after which local residents rushed to his aid.
Das was initially taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, where doctors provided emergency treatment before referring him to Dhaka for advanced medical care as his condition worsened. Hospital authorities said he had multiple injuries and burn wounds, with at least one serious internal injury requiring specialised treatment.
Confirming the incident, Damudya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rabiul Haque said police reached the spot after receiving information about the attack. He added that two suspects, identified as local residents named Rabbi and Sohag, have been named so far, and efforts are underway to arrest them and identify others involved.
Speaking to local media, Das’s wife, Seema Das, said her husband had no known disputes or enemies in the area. She alleged that the attackers targeted him deliberately and expressed shock over the sudden and brutal nature of the assault.
The incident comes amid a series of violent attacks reported against members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh in recent weeks. Earlier this week, a Hindu man was killed in a separate incident in Mymensingh district. In December, media reports also highlighted the deaths of other Hindu youths in mob-related violence in different parts of the country.
Human rights groups and community leaders have expressed growing alarm over what they describe as an increase in attacks on minority communities, calling for stronger protection measures and swift accountability for those responsible.