Daijiworld Media Network - Naogaon

Naogaon, Jan 7: A Hindu man in Bangladesh died after jumping into a water body while attempting to escape a mob that was allegedly chasing him over accusations of theft, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place in Naogaon district, further fuelling concerns over a series of violent attacks targeting members of the Hindu community in the country.

The deceased has been identified as Mithun Sarkar. According to Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tariqul Islam, Sarkar was chased by a group of people who accused him of theft. “He jumped into the water while fleeing the mob and subsequently died. Police were informed, and the body was recovered with the assistance of the fire service. A post-mortem examination is being conducted and the incident is under investigation,” the SP said.

The incident comes amid growing unrest in Bangladesh following the death of prominent student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December last year, after which several attacks on Hindus have been reported across the country.

The first such incident was reported on December 18, when Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy claims that later turned out to be false. His body was reportedly tied to a tree and set on fire.

In another recent case, a 40-year-old Hindu grocery shop owner, Moni Chakraborty, was brutally murdered in Narsingdi city. According to local media, Chakraborty was attacked with a sharp weapon at Charsindhur Bazar in Palash upazila while returning home after closing his shop. Police said he collapsed on the spot and died. He was the son of Madan Thakur from Shibpur upazila.

Chakraborty is the third Hindu businessman to be killed in recent weeks. Earlier on the same day, another Hindu businessman, Rana Pratap Bairagi (38), who was also the acting editor of a local newspaper, was fatally shot in the head by unidentified assailants at Kapalia Bazaar in Jessore district.

In yet another incident, Khokon Chandra Das (50) died on January 3 after being brutally attacked, hacked and set ablaze. On December 24, Amrit Mondal was allegedly lynched over claims of extortion in Rajbari district’s Pangsha upazila.

The continuing incidents have sparked fear and concern among minority communities, with calls growing louder for stronger protection measures and swift justice against those responsible.