A series of violent incidents targeting members of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh has intensified concern over their safety, following the killing of a Hindu businessman and newspaper editor in Jessore district and the alleged gang-rape of a Hindu widow in a separate case in Kaliganj, according to police and local media reports.
In the most recent incident, Rana Pratap Bairagi, a Hindu businessman and acting editor of the newspaper Dainik BD Khabar, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Keshabpur area of Jessore on Monday evening. Police said the attack took place around 5:45 pm when three men on a motorcycle allegedly lured Bairagi from his ice-making factory to a nearby alley and shot him at close range.
According to Monirampur Police Station, Bairagi was shot multiple times in the head and his throat was slit, leading to his death on the spot. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack. While the exact motive remains under investigation, police have indicated that the killing may be linked to an internal dispute involving the banned Purbo Banglar Communist Party, of which Bairagi was reportedly associated. Authorities also noted that several criminal cases had previously been registered against him.
The killing has come amid a broader pattern of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. In recent weeks, multiple deaths have been reported, including the killing of Khokon Chandra Das on January 3, the lynching of Amrit Mondal on December 24, and the mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das on December 18, according to local reports. These incidents have heightened fears within minority communities and drawn attention from political and civil society groups.
In a separate and deeply disturbing case in Kaliganj, a 40-year-old Hindu widow was allegedly gang-raped by two men following a dispute over property. Police said the woman was reportedly tied to a tree, assaulted, and had her hair forcibly cut during the attack. A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing, though no arrests have been announced so far.
Political analysts and human rights observers say the combination of targeted killings, mob violence, and sexual assaults reflects a worsening security environment for minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus. They argue that such incidents are occurring against the backdrop of political volatility and weak enforcement in rural and semi-urban areas.
India has repeatedly expressed concern over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, urging authorities there to ensure their protection and uphold law and order. Protests have also been held in parts of India, including Jammu, where demonstrators accused Bangladeshi groups of systematically targeting Hindus.
According to Bangladesh’s 2022 census, the Hindu population stands at approximately 13.13 million, accounting for about 7.95 percent of the country’s total population. Community leaders warn that continued violence could deepen insecurity and accelerate migration, unless strong preventive and legal measures are put in place.
