Dhaka – On the eve of Bangladesh’s national elections, a 28-year-old Hindu man, Ratan Shuvo Kar, was found dead in Moulvibazar district with his hands and feet tied, raising fresh concerns about minority safety amid the country’s volatile political climate. Kar, a worker at Champara Tea Garden in the Islampur union, had been missing since Tuesday evening before locals discovered his body around 10:00 am on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses reported visible injuries and blood on his body, suggesting he may have been killed elsewhere and dumped at the tea garden.
Kar’s family expressed shock and grief. His elder brother, Laxman Kar, said, “We were searching for him since Tuesday night. This morning, we were informed his body was in the garden. We do not know why he was killed.” Police have sent the body for autopsy and launched an investigation to determine whether the killing was linked to the elections or other motives.
This incident follows a string of violent attacks targeting Hindus across Bangladesh, including the recent murder of 62-year-old Sushen Chandra Sarkar in Mymensingh district. Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, attacks, arson, land seizures, and intimidation against minorities have reportedly increased, drawing international concern. Human rights organizations, including the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, have highlighted a steady rise in targeted violence, forced displacement, and harassment of Hindu communities across 2025.
As Bangladesh heads to the polls, with 12.77 crore voters casting ballots for 299 parliamentary seats, minority groups fear continued violence and intimidation. Observers warn that the safety of Hindus and other vulnerable communities remains a critical concern in ensuring free and fair elections under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
The killing of Ratan Shuvo Kar underscores growing tensions in Bangladesh and highlights the urgent need for robust security measures to protect minorities as the nation votes in its first post-Hasina election.
