Hindu man burnt alive in Bangladesh; family calls it premeditated murder

Hindu man killed in Bangladesh

A 23-year-old Hindu man, Chanchal Bhowmik, was set on fire and killed inside his shop in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, in a shocking incident on Friday night, January 23.

According to witnesses, the attacker closed the shop’s shutter, poured petrol, and ignited the building while Chanchal was asleep inside. The assailant reportedly remained outside until the victim perished and then fled the scene.

Chanchal was the sole breadwinner for his family, supporting his ailing mother, a disabled elder brother, and a younger brother after the death of his father. He had been employed at a local garage in Narsingdi for six years and lived there.

Residents and the garage owner described Chanchal as “a simple and honest young man with no known enmity.” Both his family and neighbours believe the murder was premeditated and may have been motivated by religious hatred.

The incident has drawn comparisons to previous attacks on Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh. In late December, 50-year-old businessman Khokon Das was attacked and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur district. Das, a small medicine shop owner, was reportedly stabbed, beaten, doused with petrol, and set ablaze while returning home.

Earlier, garment worker Dipu Chandra Das was also beaten to death and set on fire after being stripped naked, creating widespread fear within the Hindu community.

The attacks have prompted political reactions in India. The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party described Chanchal’s killing as part of “a broader pattern of violence targeting Bengali Hindus.”

These repeated incidents have contributed to an atmosphere of fear among Hindu minorities across Bangladesh, with families and communities calling for increased security and justice.