Dhaka, January 4 — Bangladeshi authorities on Sunday arrested three men in connection with the brutal attack and burning to death of a Hindu businessman in Shariatpur district, an incident that has triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country.
The victim, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, was assaulted near Keurbhanga Bazar in the Damudya area of Shariatpur, around 100 kilometres south of Dhaka, on Wednesday night. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday after battling for life for several days.
According to reports by leading daily Prothom Alo, a team of the Rapid Action Battalion arrested the three accused from Kishoreganj district, nearly 100 kilometres northeast of the capital, early Sunday morning. The arrested men have been identified as Sohag Khan (27), Rabbi Molya (21) and Palash Sardar (25), all residents of the Damudya area.
Superintendent of Police Mir Monir Hossain, company commander of the RAB’s Madaripur camp, told local media that the accused were being brought to the camp for further legal proceedings. Madaripur is located about 20 kilometres from Shariatpur.
Police said Das, who ran a medicine shop and was also involved in mobile banking services, was travelling in an autorickshaw when the assailants intercepted the vehicle. He was allegedly beaten, attacked with sharp weapons, doused with petrol and set on fire.
In a desperate attempt to save his life, Das reportedly jumped into a roadside pond as locals raised an alarm, forcing the attackers to flee. He was rescued by residents and first taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital before being shifted to Dhaka due to the critical nature of his injuries.
Doctors treating him in Dhaka said he had sustained multiple injuries, including a deep abdominal wound, along with severe burns to his face, head and hands.
Shariatpur Superintendent of Police Rawnak Jahan said the victim had named the accused before his death, according to news portal BDNews24.
The killing marks the fifth death of a member of the Hindu community since December, according to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. The organisation’s spokesperson Kajol Debnath said radical groups appear to be using violence to intimidate religious minorities, raising serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation for minority communities in Bangladesh.
