Hindu man set on fire in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur after attack with sharp weapons
Guwahati: Days after the deaths of Dipu Chandra Das and Bajendra Biswas, another Hindu man in Bangladesh was seriously injured during an attack at Damudya, Shariatpur.
According to a report by Prothom Alo, assailants assaulted a 50-year-old Hindu businessman, Khokon Chandra Das, attacked him with sharp weapons, poured petrol on him, and set him on fire.
The incident took place near Keurbhanga Bazar in Kaneshwar Union around 9:30 pm on Wednesday.
The injured man was first taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka for advanced medical care.
Police sources said Khokon Chandra Das lives in Tilai village under Ward No. 3 of Koneshwar Union. He runs a medicine shop and a mobile banking service at Keurbhanga Bazar.
Das was returning home in a CNG autorickshaw on Wednesday night after closing his shop and collecting the day’s earnings.
Near Keurbhanga Bazar on the Damudya–Shariatpur road, a group reportedly stopped the vehicle and attacked him.
He was injured with sharp weapons before petrol was poured on him and he was set on fire. To escape, Das jumped into a roadside pond.
The attackers fled after local residents raised an alarm. He was rescued and taken to hospital around 10 pm.
Doctors at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital said the victim had injuries on several parts of his body, including serious wounds to the stomach, along with burn injuries on his face, head, and hands.
Due to the severity of his condition, he was referred to Dhaka.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in Bangladesh, which has been facing political instability since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down following student-led protests in mid-2024.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, the victim’s wife, Seema Das, said her husband may have been targeted because he recognised two of the attackers.
She said the family has no known disputes or enemies and is unable to understand the reason behind the attack.
Police have launched an investigation and said two suspects have been identified. Efforts are underway to arrest them and determine whether others were involved, according to Damudya police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Rabiul Haque.