Bangladesh: Hindu sweet shop owner beaten to death after dispute over bananas in Gazipur

Bangladesh: In yet another disturbing incident highlighting violence against minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu businessman was allegedly beaten to death following a trivial dispute over bananas in Gazipur district.

The victim has been identified as Liton Chandra Ghosh (55), the owner of “Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel,” a well-known eatery in the area. Local media reports say three members of a single family have been arrested in connection with the killing.

According to police officials from Kaliganj police station, the accused include Swapan Mia (55), his wife Majeda Khatun (45), and their son Masum Mia (28). The incident reportedly stemmed from a quarrel over a missing bunch of bananas from Masum’s banana plantation.

Police said Masum noticed that one bunch of bananas was missing from his orchard and began searching for it. During this search, he allegedly spotted the bananas at Liton Ghosh’s hotel, which led to a heated argument between the two. What began as a verbal dispute soon escalated.

Reports indicate that around 11 am, Masum visited the hotel again and got into a confrontation with a staff member, Ananta Das, over the same issue. Soon after, Masum’s parents arrived at the spot. As tensions rose, Liton Ghosh reportedly attempted to intervene and calm the situation. However, instead of de-escalating, the argument turned violent.

Police officials stated that during the scuffle, Liton was punched forcefully. He collapsed on the spot and died instantly due to the impact of the assault. The accused allegedly fled the scene, but were later arrested following a preliminary investigation.

An officer identified as Jakir Hossain confirmed that all three accused have been taken into custody and further investigation is under way. Authorities are examining eyewitness accounts and other evidence to determine the exact sequence of events and the roles played by each accused.

The killing has once again drawn attention to the growing concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Several reports suggest that incidents targeting Hindus have increased in recent months, particularly under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.

Hindus constitute around 7% of Bangladesh’s population, and rights groups have repeatedly flagged a rise in intimidation, assaults and killings. According to media reports, since last month alone, at least 51 incidents of violence targeting Hindus have been recorded across the country, resulting in the deaths of around 10 people.

The latest killing in Gazipur has intensified calls for stronger protection of minorities and swift justice for victims of communal and targeted violence.

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