Bangladesh: Hindu man dies after jumping into canal to escape mob over theft suspicion

The death of Mithun Sarkar marks the latest in a series brutal attacks reported in the last few days

• Hindu man dies fleeing mob amid rising minority violence in Bangladesh
• Hindu attacks reported before Bangladesh's first election since Hasina's removal.
• Bangladesh has witnessed a fresh wave of unrest after the killing of Osman Hadi

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A 25-year-old Hindu man died on Tuesday after jumping into a canal while attempting to evade a mob that had been chasing him over allegations of theft. Police later recovered the body of the victim, identified as Mithun Sarkar from Bhandarpur village, according to a report by News18 Hindi.

The incident comes amid a reported surge in violence against religious minorities in the neighbouring country ahead of its first parliamentary elections since the 2024 uprising that ousted the Sheikh Hasina government.

Since the death of radical youth leader Osman Hadi in early December, Bangladesh has witnessed a fresh wave of unrest. The death of Mithun Sarkar marks the latest in a series brutal attacks reported in the last few days.

On Monday, unidentified assailants shot dead a Hindu businessman, who also served as the acting editor of a newspaper, in Bangladesh’s Jessore district. The same day, a 40-year-old Hindu grocery shop owner was killed with a sharp weapon by unknown attackers in Narsingdi city.

Earlier, on January 3, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das died after being brutally attacked and set on fire near Keurbhanga Bazar in Damudya, Shariatpur district.

The killings followed a particularly violent December.

On December 24, Amrit Mondal was lynched in Pangsha upazila of Rajbari town over allegations of extortion. Earlier, on December 18, Dipu Chandra Das (25) was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire in Mymensingh city following allegations of blasphemy. At least 12 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of Das.

The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents against minority communities in the country after the ouster of the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August, 2024.

As of the 2022 census, approximately 13.13 million Hindus reside in Bangladesh, constituting about 7.95 per cent of the total population, news agency PTI reported.