A 50-year-old Hindu businessman, Khokon Chandra Das, has died from injuries sustained in a brutal attack in Shariatpur district, police and family sources confirmed.
Das, a resident of Tiloi village in Damudya upazila and proprietor of a medicine shop and mobile banking service, was assaulted late on Wednesday night (December 31) while returning home after closing his business near Keurbhanga Bazar.
According to local police, a group of assailants stopped Das’s auto-rickshaw on the Damudya–Shariatpur road, attacked him with sharp weapons, robbed him of cash and belongings, and then poured flammable liquid on his body and set him on fire.
In a desperate bid to save his life, Das jumped into a nearby roadside pond, which helped to partially douse the flames. Neighbours who heard his screams rescued him and rushed him first to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital. Due to the severity of his wounds — including deep cuts and burn injuries covering a significant portion of his body — he was later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for advanced treatment.
Despite medical efforts, Das’s condition worsened, and he succumbed to his injuries early Saturday morning. Doctors said he had suffered extensive burns, including to his face and hands.
His family expressed shock and grief, saying they could not understand why he was targeted, as he had no known disputes with anyone in the community. Local traders and residents have protested, demanding swift action and the arrest of those responsible.
Police have filed a murder case, naming three suspects, and are working to detain them. Authorities have recovered the victim’s mobile phone, and investigations into the motive and identities of others involved are ongoing.
This incident comes amid growing concerns about violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, with several attacks on Hindu individuals reported in recent weeks, prompting criticism and calls for stronger protections.
