Hindu businessman brutally murdered in Bangladesh days before elections

Dhaka: Violence against the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh continues unabated as a 62-year-old Hindu businessman was brutally hacked to death by unidentified attackers, just three days ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections.

The horrific incident occurred on the night of February 9 in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The deceased has been identified as Sushen Chandra Sarkar, a well-known rice trader in the region.

According to local authorities, Sarkar owned a business establishment named “Bhai Bhai Enterprise” at Bogar Bazar and had been running the shop for many years. Police reports suggest that the attack took place at around 11 pm when Sarkar was alone at his shop in the market area.

Unknown assailants entered the premises and attacked him with sharp weapons, killing him on the spot. After committing the murder, the attackers reportedly locked the shop from outside and fled the scene. They also looted cash and valuable goods worth lakhs of taka from the store.

Concerned that Sarkar had not returned home late at night, his family members went searching for him. When they reached the shop, they found him lying in a pool of blood inside the locked premises. Shocked relatives immediately informed the police, who rushed to the spot and recovered the body.

Sarkar was taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Speaking to the media, the victim’s son Sujan Sarkar said the family was devastated by the tragedy. “After killing my father, the attackers stole money and valuables from the shop.

We have been in the rice business for a long time and had no disputes with anyone. This is a cruel and senseless murder. We demand that the killers be arrested and given strict punishment,” he said.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the murder. Officials stated that efforts are underway to track down the culprits using CCTV footage and local intelligence inputs. However, no arrests have been made so far.

The murder has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. Since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, incidents of violence against minorities have increased significantly.

Reports of attacks on Hindu homes, temples, businesses, and individuals have surfaced frequently over the past several months. With national elections scheduled later this week, the killing has intensified fears among the Hindu community about their security and future in the country.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly urged the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to take stronger measures to protect minority communities.

From targeted killings to vandalism of temples and forced land grabbing, thousands of incidents against minorities have been reported in recent times, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

The latest murder has further highlighted the urgent need for strict law enforcement and protection of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.

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