A 50-year-old Hindu man, Khokon Das, was brutally attacked and set on fire by a violent mob in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district, but survived by jumping into a nearby pond, according to local media reports. The incident occurred on December 31 and has once again raised concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country.
Das, who runs a small medical shop, was returning home after closing his store when he was allegedly intercepted by a group of attackers. He was first stabbed in the lower abdomen with sharp weapons, beaten on the head, and then doused with petrol before being set ablaze. In a desperate attempt to save his life, Das ran and jumped into a pond, which helped extinguish the flames.
His wife said her husband was a simple man with no known enemies. “He did not harm anyone. We don’t know who did this. We just want justice,” she said. As his condition worsened, Das was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
This attack is the fourth reported incident of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh in the past two weeks. On December 24, a 29-year-old Hindu youth, Amrit Mondal, was allegedly lynched by a mob. Earlier, on December 18, another Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was killed following false blasphemy allegations, and his body was later set on fire.
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has condemned some of the incidents but has denied a communal angle, attributing the violence to criminal activities. However, human rights organisations and minority groups have expressed serious concern over what they describe as a pattern of targeted attacks.
India has also voiced grave concern over the continued hostility toward minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, and said it is closely monitoring developments. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the interim government of failing to protect religious minorities, a charge the government has denied, stating it remains committed to ensuring their safety.
