Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Dhaka, Apr 18: In a deeply concerning development highlighting the escalating violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, a prominent Hindu leader was abducted and brutally murdered in Dinajpur's Biral sub-district. Bhabesh Chandra, who served as the Vice-President of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, a significant Hindu organization, was confirmed dead by local police and his family.
According to his wife, Shantana Roy, speaking to The Daily Star, four individuals on two motorcycles forcibly took Bhabesh Chandra from their home on Thursday. Eyewitness accounts corroborate this, stating that the assailants transported him to Narabari village where he was subjected to a savage beating. Later the same day, Chandra's unconscious body was returned to his residence in a van. Despite immediate medical attention at the Biral Upazila Health Complex and subsequent transfer to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.
The officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station stated that an active investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, and a formal case is being prepared.
This tragic incident follows a disturbing report released last month by Dhaka-based human rights organization Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK), which documented 147 incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu homes, temples, and businesses across Bangladesh. These incidents included the vandalization of 408 households (with 36 cases of arson), 113 attacks on minority-owned businesses, 32 attacks on Ahmadiyya mosques and temples, and the desecration of idols in 92 temples.
Further underscoring the vulnerability of minorities, a September 2024 report by Prothom Alo, a leading Bengali daily, indicated a surge in attacks on minority communities, particularly Hindus, following the transition to the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus in August of the previous year. The report noted that Hindu houses, businesses, and places of worship continue to be targeted in various parts of the country.
The rise in violence and protests since the interim government assumed power has seemingly exacerbated the precarious situation for Hindus, with numerous reports detailing an alarming increase in gang rapes, murders, and the desecration of Hindu temples.
India has consistently voiced its concerns regarding the atrocities faced by Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Most recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of their safety and security during a meeting with Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, conveyed India's stance at a recent media briefing, stating, "On the question of minorities, this particular issue came up for discussion. We have conveyed our concerns regarding the treatment of minorities and the kind of violence that has happened against them... We hope that the Bangladesh government will take strong action against those responsible for these atrocities."