Over the past few weeks, Bangladesh has witnessed an alarming escalation in violence against members of its Hindu minority. From lynchings and mob attacks to targeted shootings and brutal assaults, the killings have unfolded with disturbing regularity. A detailed review of reports from Indian and Bangladeshi media reveals that at least 11 Hindus have been killed across Bangladesh within just 35 days, pointing to a grim pattern that has raised serious concerns about minority safety, governance, and the collapse of law and order in the country.

The killings, which span multiple districts and circumstances, have occurred under the watch of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, which came to power after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024. While the interim government has repeatedly denied communal motives, describing the incidents as “exceptions” or ordinary crimes, the chronology, brutality, and frequency of these deaths suggest otherwise.

A Surge in Killings That Can No Longer Be Ignored

The gravity of the situation became impossible to overlook on January 5, 2026, when two Hindus were killed within hours of each other in separate districts. Rana Kanti Bairagi, a Hindu newspaper editor and industrialist, was shot dead in Jessore, while Mani Chakraborty, a grocery shop owner in Narsingdi, succumbed to injuries following a violent attack at his shop. These two deaths marked the fifth and sixth killings of Hindus in just 18 days, a period that began with the lynching of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das on December 18.

However, a broader examination paints an even darker picture. Since December 2, 2025, at least 11 members of the Hindu community have been killed across Bangladesh. Among them were a 1971 Liberation War freedom fighter and his wife, murdered in their home with their throats slit—an act that shook the nation’s conscience.

Denial Amid Deteriorating Law and Order

Despite mounting evidence, the Yunus-led interim administration has consistently downplayed the violence. Officials have rejected claims of communal targeting, insisting the killings are exaggerated or unrelated incidents. Yet, minority groups and rights organisations argue that the reality on the ground contradicts these assertions.

According to a December 2025 report by Ain o Salish Kendra, a prominent Bangladeshi human rights organisation, 197 people were killed in mob violence in 2025 alone, contributing to 293 mob-related deaths since 2024. This data underscores a broader breakdown of law and order, extending well beyond minority-targeted violence.

International concern has also grown. On December 19, the Washington DC–based Hindus for Human Rights organisation urged Bangladesh’s interim administration to urgently establish a Ministry for Minority Affairs and ensure the safety of vulnerable communities.

The 35-Day Timeline: Every Case That Shook Bangladesh

• December 2, 2025: Two Killings, One Night

The first two killings in this grim timeline occurred on the same night.

Prantosh Kormokar, a 42-year-old Hindu gold trader from Raipura upazila in Narsingdi, was lured out of his home by masked men under the pretext of a business discussion. He was taken to a nearby school playground and shot in the chest. Though rushed to hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. Police later admitted they could not identify either the motive or the assailants.

On the same day, Utpol Sarkar, a 35-year-old Hindu fish trader from Faridpur’s Saltha upazila, was brutally murdered while travelling to a neighbouring market. His van driver was blindfolded and tied up, while Sarkar was hacked to death. His body was later found dumped in an open field. Authorities stated the motive was unclear and refrained from categorising the murder as robbery.

• December 7, 2025: A Freedom Fighter and His Wife Slaughtered

On the morning of December 7, neighbours discovered the bodies of Jogesh Chandra Roy, a 75-year-old 1971 Liberation War veteran (Muktijoddha), and his wife Suborna Roy in their home in Rangpur. Both had their throats slit. Police estimated the murders occurred around 1 am. Shockingly, no case had been filed even a day later.

The couple lived alone, though their two sons—Shoven Chandra Roy and Rajesh Khanna Chandra Roy—serve as officers in different units of the Bangladesh Police.

• December 12, 2025: A Teenager Murdered, Body Dumped

Shanto Chandra Das, an 18-year-old Hindu autorickshaw driver from Cumilla, was found dead in a cornfield with his throat slit. He had gone missing the previous evening after leaving home with his vehicle, which police believe was stolen. Though investigators linked the crime to robbery, the brutality of the killing intensified fear among minority families.

• December 18, 2025: Lynching That Sparked Global Outrage

The lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, marked a turning point. After being forced to resign by factory supervisors, Das was handed over to an Islamist mob. He was beaten to death, his body hung on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway, and then set on fire. Colleagues reportedly participated in the violence.

Authorities later confirmed that allegations of blasphemy were baseless and that the killing was premeditated. India strongly condemned the murder, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal calling ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh a matter of “grave concern.”

• December 24, 2025: Mob Justice in Rajbari

Amrit Mandal, a 30-year-old Hindu man from Rajbari district, was beaten to death by a mob after being accused of extortion. Police claimed Mandal was a known criminal with multiple cases against him. While authorities insisted the killing was not communal, it occurred amid heightened tension following Dipu Das’s lynching.

• December 29, 2025: A Fatal “Prank” in Mymensingh

Bajendra Biswas, a Hindu member of Ansar Bahini, was shot by his colleague Noman Mia at a garment factory. Witnesses said Mia jokingly asked if he should shoot before firing a shotgun. Biswas later died at a health complex. Mia was arrested, with police suggesting the incident may have been a prank gone tragically wrong.

• January 3, 2026: Burned Alive After Stabbing

Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu businessman from Shariatpur, died after suffering severe burns in a mob attack on December 31, 2024. He was stabbed, doused with petrol, and set on fire while returning from his pharmacy. Though he attempted to escape by jumping into a pond, burns covered 30% of his body. He died after three days in Dhaka’s National Burn Institute.

• January 5, 2026: Two More Lives Lost

On January 5, Rana Kanti Bairagi, a 45-year-old newspaper editor and ice factory owner, was lured into an alley in Jessore and shot multiple times before his throat was slit. Hours later, Mani Chakraborty, a grocery trader in Narsingdi, was attacked at his shop with sharp weapons and died en route to hospital.

Who Was Mani Chakraborty?

Also known as Sarat Chakraborty Mani, the 40-year-old businessman was a resident of Sadharchar Union, Shibpur upazila, and son of Madan Thakur. He had previously worked in South Korea, before returning to Bangladesh and building a home in Narsingdi with his wife Antara Mukherjee and their 12-year-old son Abhik.

Friends and neighbours described him as calm, humane, and socially responsible, with no known disputes. Just weeks before his death, he wrote on Facebook: “So much fire everywhere, so much violence. My birthplace has turned into a valley of death.”

Social activist Bappaditya Basu alleged that extremists had demanded jizya from Chakraborty days before his murder, threatening to kidnap his wife if he approached police. No official confirmation of these claims has yet been issued.

Beyond Killings: Brutal Crimes Against Hindu Women

Violence against minorities has not been limited to murders. In a harrowing incident, a 40-year-old Hindu widow was allegedly raped by two men, Shahin and Hasan, tied to a tree, had her hair cut off, and was filmed. She alleged the assault followed prolonged harassment after purchasing property from Shahin’s family.

A Climate of Fear and Impunity

A viral video from a Habiganj police station further exposed the erosion of state authority. Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement—which played a role in toppling Hasina’s government—were seen threatening police and boasting about burning a station and killing a Hindu officer in 2024, without fear of consequences.

The Unanswered Question

While the Yunus administration acted swiftly following the murder of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi, scepticism remains over whether Hindu killings will be investigated with equal seriousness.

As Bangladesh inches toward elections, one question looms large: Will justice be served, or will these deaths continue to be dismissed as “exceptions”? For the Hindu minority, the answer may determine not just accountability—but survival itself.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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