Bangladesh: Violence against Hindus continues as mob beats trader to death in Gazipur, three held

Dhaka: Incidents of violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh continue to take place at distressing regularity. Over the past two days, two separate incidents of Hindus being murdered have been reported from two different districts, creating an atmosphere of tension and anger in the region.

What do we know about the latest attack on Hindus in Bangladesh?

The latest incident occurred on Saturday morning around 11 am in the Kaliganj area of ​​Gazipur district, where a Hindu hotel owner, Liton Chandra Ghosh alias Kali (60), was beaten to death. Liton Ghosh owned a hotel called Boishakhi Sweet and Hotel in the area. According to reports, a minor argument broke out between Ananta Das, an employee at the hotel, and a customer, which quickly escalated into a physical fight.

During this time, Litan Chandra Ghosh intervened to protect his employee, but the attackers turned on him. According to eyewitnesses, the accused attacked Litan Ghosh with punches and kicks, and also struck him with a shovel. Seriously injured, Litan Ghosh collapsed on the spot and died before locals could do anything to help him.

What action has the Bangladesh police taken?

Upon receiving information about the incident, the police arrived at the scene, brought the situation under control, and took the body into custody for post-mortem examination. The police have detained three suspects in connection with the case. Police say that the initial investigation suggests the violence stemmed from a minor dispute, although the investigation is ongoing. A climate of grief and tension prevails in the Kaliganj area following the incident. Local residents have demanded a fair investigation and strict legal action against the culprits.

What do we know about the Hindu killing in Rajbari district?

The day before, another case of a Hindu youth being murdered was reported in Bangladesh. The incident occurred in the Sadar Upazila of Rajbari district, where 30-year-old Ripon Saha was allegedly deliberately run over and killed by a vehicle. According to local media reports, the incident took place on Friday, leading to widespread tension and anger in the area.

The deceased, Ripon Saha, worked at the Karim Filling Station near Golanda intersection in Rajbari. It is reported that a vehicle driver refueled at the petrol pump but refused to pay. When Ripon Saha tried to stop him, the accused driver deliberately ran him over, killing him on the spot.

Police confirmed the incident and said that the vehicle has been seized. The vehicle owner, Abul Hashem, has been arrested and is reportedly a former treasurer of the Rajbari district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The vehicle driver, Kamal Hossain, has also been taken into custody by the police from Banibhan Nipara village.