Bangladesh has seen two violent attacks on members of its Hindu minority in just one day, raising serious concerns about the safety of minority communities. On Monday night, Moni Chakraborty, a Hindu grocery store owner in the Narsingdi district, was attacked with sharp weapons around 10 pm and later died from his injuries.
Earlier the same day, Rana Pratap, a 45-year-old factory owner and acting newspaper editor in Jashore district, was shot dead in a brutal attack. Local reports say that a group of men shot him in the head and also slit his throat. Sources also said that Pratap had several cases filed against him.
How Rana Pratap was killed
Rana Pratap, the son of a schoolteacher from Keshabpur sub-district, had been running an ice factory in Kopalia Bazar for two years. On Monday evening, some men called him out of his factory, took him to an alley and shot him. Police found seven bullet casings near his body.
A local resident said the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, had an argument with Pratap, fired multiple rounds at his head and then fled. A police officer confirmed that he was shot three times in the head and said, ‘We are investigating who was involved.’
Growing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh
Monday’s killings are part of a troubling pattern of attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Just a few days ago, a Hindu woman in Jhenaidah district was raped by two men who also demanded money from her. When she screamed, they tied her to a tree, cut her hair, filmed the attack and shared it on social media. She was rushed to a hospital by locals after losing consciousness.
Other recent incidents include Khokon Chandra Das, 50, who was set on fire while returning home from his business on January 3 and later died in hospital and Bajendra Biswas, 40, who was shot dead at a garment factory in Mymensingh on December 29 by a colleague. Earlier cases include Amrit Mondal, lynched on December 24 over alleged extortion and Dipu Chandra Das, lynched and set on fire on December 18 over alleged blasphemy.