Tragic Shooting of Hindu Man in Bangladesh Sparks Outrage Amid Rising Violence
Violence Against Minorities in Bangladesh
Dhaka: In a shocking incident highlighting the ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu man was fatally shot by a colleague in the Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district, as reported by local media on Tuesday.
The victim, identified as 40-year-old Bajendra Biswas, was an Ansar member. His colleague, Noman Mia, has been apprehended following the incident.
The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force, commonly referred to as Ansar Bahini, operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is tasked with maintaining internal security and law enforcement.
The tragic event unfolded on Monday evening at the Sultana Sweaters Limited factory located in the Mehrabari area. According to reports from Bangladeshi media, there were 20 Ansar members employed at the factory.
Witnesses indicate that Noman and Bajendra were seated together when the shooting occurred. Noman allegedly shot Bajendra in the left thigh with a shotgun, leading to Bajendra's critical injuries. He was rushed to the Upazila Health Complex, where he was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
Witness Azahar Ali, another Ansar member, recounted the incident, stating, "Noman Mia and Bajendra Das were in my room when Noman suddenly aimed his shotgun at Bajendra's thigh and asked, 'Shall I shoot?' before pulling the trigger. Noman then fled the scene." Ali noted that there had been no prior argument between the two.
Mymensingh district's Additional Superintendent of Police, Abdullah Al Mamun, confirmed the arrest of Noman following a swift operation early Tuesday morning. He mentioned that an investigation is underway to uncover the motive behind the shooting. The victim's remains have been sent to the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for an autopsy, and legal proceedings are in progress.
This incident marks the third violent act against minorities in less than a week and the second in Mymensingh.
On December 24, reports emerged of another Hindu youth, 29-year-old Amrit Mondal, who was reportedly lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar Union.
Earlier, on December 18, a 25-year-old Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das was brutally killed in a mob lynching over unfounded blasphemy allegations made by a Muslim coworker at his factory in Bhaluka Upazila. The mob not only killed Das but also hung his body from a tree and set it ablaze.
The rise in violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, has been alarming under the interim government led by Yunus, prompting widespread outrage among citizens and human rights organizations globally.
Recently, India expressed serious concerns regarding the persistent hostility faced by minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, and emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation in its neighboring country.