Dhaka: A 23-year-old Hindu man was allegedly burnt alive while sleeping inside a garage in Narsingdi, around 50 km from Dhaka, in an incident that has reignited concerns over the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh ahead of the national elections.
The victim, identified as Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik, was the son of Khokan Chandra Bhowmik and a resident of Lakshmipur village in Cumilla district. He was employed at a garage located in the Khanabari Mosque Market area near the Narsingdi Police Lines.
According to local media reports, Bhowmik had completed his work on Friday night and fell asleep inside the garage. Unidentified assailants allegedly set the premises on fire while he was sleeping. As the garage contained large quantities of petrol, engine oil and other inflammable materials, the blaze spread rapidly, trapping Bhowmik inside.
He died from severe burn injuries and suffocation. Eyewitnesses described the incident as a “planned murder.”
Police have seized CCTV footage from nearby cameras that reportedly captured the attackers in the act, though the suspects have not yet been identified. A police official said the authorities are treating the case with utmost seriousness.
“The police are conducting a thorough investigation. We have recovered the body and seized CCTV footage. Multiple police teams are working to identify and arrest the culprits,” the official said.
According to Bangladesh’s 2022 census, the Hindu population stands at approximately 13.13 million, accounting for nearly eight per cent of the country’s total population. In recent weeks, incidents of violence against Hindus have increased, prompting India to express concern over the safety of the minority community in the neighbouring country.
The killing of Bhowmik follows a series of recent attacks targeting Hindus. Last week, a Hindu sweetshop owner in Gazipur district was beaten to death while trying to protect an employee from an assault. During the same period, a Hindu household was set ablaze in Sylhet district, while a Hindu autorickshaw driver was stabbed to death in Feni district.
These incidents have intensified fears among minority communities in Bangladesh, particularly as the country approaches national elections, with the government facing growing scrutiny over its ability to protect vulnerable populations from extremist violence.
With IANS inputs