Hindu man set on fire in Shariatpur
A 50-year-old Hindu man was brutally attacked and set on fire by a mob in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district, triggering fresh concern over rising violence against the Hindu minority community in the country. The incident comes barely two weeks after a Hindu youth was lynched and his body burnt in Mymensingh, underlining a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks.
How the latest attack happened
The latest victim has been identified as Khokon Das, a Hindu businessman who was returning home on the night of December 31 when he was intercepted by a group of men in Shariatpur.
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He was first attacked with sharp weapons and beaten by the mob.
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The attackers then allegedly poured a flammable substance on him and set him on fire, leaving him with severe burn injuries.
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He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, where doctors are treating him for extensive burns and trauma.
Local police have launched an investigation and say multiple teams are working to identify and arrest those involved in the attack, while tension remains high in the area.
Second attack on Hindu man in 15 days
This is the second major attack on a Hindu man in Bangladesh within about 15 days, pointing to a dangerous spike in mob violence. On December 18, 25-year-old Hindu factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was lynched in Mymensingh district after false allegations of blasphemy.
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Dipu was beaten to death by a mob in Bhaluka upazila, then his body was hanged from a tree and later set on fire on a public road, causing panic in the area.
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Investigations have so far found no evidence that he posted any social media content insulting religion, despite viral claims on Facebook.
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Bangladesh’s interim leadership publicly condemned the killing and said several suspects had been arrested.
Three Hindus killed within 12 days
Rights groups say the Shariatpur attack is part of a broader pattern of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh in recent weeks. Within just 12 days, at least three Hindus have been killed in separate incidents, in addition to the latest case where the victim survived with burn injuries.
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On December 24, 29-year-old Amrit Mondal was reportedly lynched by a mob in Rajbari district over allegations linked to extortion.
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On December 29, 40-year-old Hindu Ansar member Bajendra Biswas was shot dead by his colleague at the Sultana Sweaters Limited factory in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila.
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Police have arrested the accused shooter, identified as fellow Ansar member Noman Mia, and are probing whether the killing had communal overtones or was a personal dispute.
Why this matters now
The string of attacks has intensified fear among Bangladesh’s Hindu community and raised serious questions about minority safety and mob impunity. Human rights voices and diaspora groups are urging the government to ensure swift arrests, fast-track trials, and stronger protection for vulnerable communities, warning that unchecked mob violence could further destabilise the country’s social fabric. For readers tracking South Asia, these incidents highlight how misinformation, social media rumours, and communal rhetoric can quickly translate into deadly street violence, making vigilance, fact-checking, and robust law enforcement more critical than ever.
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