Daijiworld Media Network – Dhaka

Dhaka, Jan 4: A 13-year-old boy in Shariatpur district was recording a man engulfed in flames on his mobile phone when a horrifying realisation struck him — the victim was his own father, Khokon Chandra Das, a local mobile shop owner. The child next saw his father at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Khokon later succumbed to severe burn injuries and deep abdominal wounds.

Khokon Chandra Das’s death has become another grim addition to the rising toll of Hindu fatalities in Bangladesh ahead of the February 12 general elections. For the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, the incident underscores growing concerns among minorities over safety and justice.

Hindus, who constituted nearly 30 per cent of Bangladesh’s population during the 1971 census, now account for around 9 per cent. Many have migrated, while others reportedly avoid being officially counted, fearing that identification could make them targets.

Community members say attacks on Hindus are not new, but a disturbing shift has emerged. “What is frightening is that people are now being burnt,” several residents said, expressing deep anxiety as the election campaign intensifies.

With political parties seeking to project a secular image, leaders have made outreach efforts to minority communities. BNP candidate from Dhaka-7, Hamidur Rahman Hamid, visited the historic Dhakeshwari Temple to attend a condolence meeting, telling News18 that claims of targeted killings of Hindus were incorrect.

However, the grief on the ground tells a different story. Meghna Das, 23, widow of Dipu Chandra Das, struggled to speak as she cradled her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, uncertain about her future. Seema Das, Khokon’s widow, echoed similar anguish, demanding strict punishment for those responsible for her husband’s death.

As polling day draws closer, unease among Hindu communities is growing. Several associations are planning to approach the Election Commission, seeking assurances of fair and secure elections. Some groups are even considering a boycott, hoping it may force attention to their concerns.

For the BNP and the Jamaat–National Citizens’ Party alliance, the weeks ahead pose a critical test — to convince the world that Bangladesh has entered a new phase after Sheikh Hasina, where minorities can live without fear. Whether they can rise to that challenge remains an open question.