Hindu Man Shot Dead in Bangladesh; Fifth Such Incident in Three Weeks

A Hindu man has been shot dead in Bangladesh, according to reports. This is the fifth incident of such a kind in three weeks in Bangladesh which is witnessing a surge of atrocities against minorities amid widespread protests. 

The incident took place in Monirampur upazila under Jessore district in Bangladesh on Monday, reports said.

According to local reports, the victim has been identified as 45-year-old Rana Pratap.

Locals said that miscreants opened fire on the Hindu youth when he was at Kapalia Bazar in Union No. 17 of Monirampur upazila, Jessore. He collapsed at the spot. He later succumbed to the bullet injuries before being taken to the hospital by locals.

Police rushed to the spot on receiving information about the incident.

Investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the incident. Efforts are underway to nab the culprits.

This comes a few days after a Hindu man named Khokon Chandra Das was set on fire on New Year's Eve in Bangladesh.

Das, a middle-aged Hindu businessman who ran a pharmacy at Keurbhanga Bazar in Bangladesh's Shariatpur district, died while undergoing treatment for burn injuries at the National Burn Institute in Dhaka.

Das' fatal injuries stemmed from a violent attack on him. According to local newspaper Prothom Alo, the incident occurred around 9:30 pm near Keurbhanga Bazar in Koneshwar Union of Damudya, when a group of miscreants stopped Das while he was returning home after closing his shop for the day.

The attackers allegedly assaulted him with sharp weapons, poured petrol on his body and set him on fire. In an attempt to save himself, Das jumped into a nearby pond beside the road. Hearing his screams, local residents rushed to the scene, prompting the attackers to flee.

Locals rescued Das and initially took him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, where he received emergency treatment before being referred to Dhaka later that night as his condition deteriorated, Prothom Alo reported.

According to Damudya Police Station sources, Das was a resident of Tiloi village in Koneshwar Union and also operated a mobile banking business at Keurbhanga Bazar. Police said the assailants stopped the auto-rickshaw he was travelling in on the Damudya-Shariatpur road before carrying out the attack.

Concerns have been raised over growing violence against members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Last month, Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker in Mymensingh district, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy charges, while another Hindu youth, Amrit Mondal, was lynched in Rajbari district over an extortion allegation.

These incidents have triggered widespread outrage and condemnation from political leaders, religious organisations and minority groups in Bangladesh and India.