Although ten days have not yet passed since the new government assumed responsibility, the number of Hindus being killed in Bangladesh continues to increase. On Wednesday night (25 February) and early Thursday (26 February), in two separate incidents in Chattogram, two members of the Hindu community were brutally murdered.
On Wednesday night, a Hindu youth named Akash Das was stabbed to death by local extortionists in Chattogram. The deceased Akash was the son of Babul Das of Dhopapara area adjacent to Alankar Mor in Chattogram.
According to family members and eyewitnesses, Akash had long been working at a toy factory at Sagarika Bitak Bazar Mor. Co-workers claim that a group had been demanding extortion money from the factory workers for quite some time. Because Akash protested, they were unable to collect extortion from the workers. This led to hostility between him and the accused. On the night of the incident, after having dinner and going to his workplace, he saw that the extortion gang had attacked another factory worker named Michael. When Akash went forward to save the assaulted Michael, the extortionist group, acting out of prior anger, carried out a brutal attack on him. First, they struck Akash on the head with a helmet and later stabbed him indiscriminately.
In critical condition, he was first taken to Al-Amin Hospital at AK Khan Mor in the city. As his condition deteriorated there, he was transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The on-duty doctor declared him dead.
The family alleges that Akash Das was killed in a premeditated manner due to prior enmity. Eyewitnesses said that those involved in the attack included identified extortionists named Iman, Nazmul, Mohsin, Ratul, Mannan, Hriday and Antar, along with several others. It is alleged that they collectively carried out the attack on Akash.
The victim’s family has demanded a proper investigation into the incident and the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible. Akash’s brother, Sagar Das, said preparations are underway to file a murder case at the police station. Police have visited the hospital and the scene and collected necessary information. Pahartali Police Station stated that action would be taken after investigation once the family files a case.
Meanwhile, Akash Das’s parents are devastated after losing their only son. The environment became heavy with grief due to their wailing in front of the hospital and in the courtyard of their home. The father’s lament and the mother’s cries left everyone present heartbroken.
On the other hand, in Chandanaish upazila of Chattogram, a 70-year-old Hindu man named Chandan Dey was shot dead by robbers. The incident took place around 4:45 am on Thursday in Badrupura Hindupada of Ward No. 1 of Chandanaish Municipality.
According to local sources, in the early hours of the morning, an armed gang of 5 to 10 robbers entered the area in a microbus. They first raided a neighboring cowshed and loaded two cows onto a truck. Later, they cut through the tin wall of Chandan Kumar Dey’s cowshed and entered inside, attempting to take out cattle. When Chandan Dey realized the matter and tried to resist, the robbers threatened him not to come out of the house.
The robbers dragged three cows from his cowshed and loaded them into the vehicle. Hearing the sound of the vehicle leaving, Chandan Dey came outside and saw that two robbers were still around the cowshed. When he tried to gather people by shouting, the robbers fired at him in front of his wife. He died on the spot after being shot. The robbers then quickly fled the area.
Upon receiving the news, police arrived at the scene and recovered the body, sending it to the morgue of Chattogram Medical College Hospital for autopsy. It is known that the victim’s family is preparing to file a complaint.
The incident has created extreme panic and anger among local residents. They have demanded the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved.
Local Councillor Md. Shahed confirmed the truth of the incident.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandanaish Police Station, Mohammad Ilyas Khan, also confirmed the incident. He said an inquest report has been prepared on the body. Necessary legal action will be taken based on the complaint of the victim’s family.
Condemnation and protest by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has protested the killings of Akash Das and Chandan Dey. Acting General Secretary of the organization, Monindra Kumar Nath, told this correspondent that they had hoped the new government would prevent the continuation of the anti-Hindu persecution that took place during the Yunus era. However, it is unfortunate that incidents of Hindu killings have occurred again at the very beginning. At the same time, incidents of attacks, occupation and arson on Hindu homes in different parts of the country are continuing. If the new government fails to prevent such killings and persecution of Hindus, the lives of religious minorities will once again be at risk.
He said, “We hope that the BNP government will work to fulfill our long-standing seven-point demands, including enacting and implementing a special security law for minorities and forming a minority commission.”
