Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Jan 10: Violence targeting minority communities in Bangladesh continues to escalate, with a 19-year-old Hindu man, Joy Mohapatra, dying after consuming poison over a minor debt in Dirai upazila, Sunamganj district, local media reported.
Joy was undergoing treatment at M A G Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet but succumbed on Friday morning. According to his cousin, Ayan Das, Joy had purchased a mobile phone for 5,500 Taka from shopkeeper Amirul Islam, paying 2,000 Taka upfront and agreeing to pay the remainder in weekly installments of 500 Taka. Despite making regular payments, a delay in the final installment led to a confrontation.
Reports suggest that when Joy visited the shop on Thursday to make the last payment, he was allegedly beaten, humiliated, and had his mobile phone confiscated. In distress, Joy consumed poison the same evening. He was first admitted to Dirai Upazila Health Complex and later referred to Sylhet after his condition worsened. Moni Rani Talukder, the resident medical officer, confirmed that he was in critical condition upon arrival.
Recalling the incident, Joy’s mother, Shelly Mohapatra, told local media: “They took my son’s phone when he couldn’t pay immediately. Later, they slapped him when he returned for the SIM card. He consumed poison at that shop.”
Dirai police officer-in-charge Enamul Haque Chowdhury confirmed that the incident is under investigation, adding that legal action would follow if a formal complaint is filed.
This tragic death comes amid a disturbing wave of attacks on Hindu communities in Bangladesh. Joy’s case marks the eighth such incident in just 22 days and the fourth within the current week alone.
Earlier incidents include:
• 25-year-old Mithun Sarkar, who died after jumping into a canal to escape a mob accusing him of robbery in Naogaon district.
• 40-year-old Sarat Chakraborty Mani, killed by an extremist group in Narsingdi district.
• 38-year-old Rana Pratap Bairagi, a businessman shot dead in Monirampur Upazila, Jashore district.
• 40-year-old Bajendra Biswas, shot by a colleague in Mymensingh district.
• 29-year-old Amrit Mondal and 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, victims of brutal mob lynchings over alleged disputes and false accusations.
The series of attacks has raised alarm internationally. India has expressed concern over the repeated communal violence, stating that it is closely monitoring the situation and urging Bangladeshi authorities to address such incidents decisively.
The recent deaths highlight a troubling pattern of rising hostility against minority communities, emphasizing the urgent need for protection measures and accountability to prevent further loss of life.