Who was Bajendra Biswas? Hindu worker shot dead in Bangladesh after co-worker asked “Shall I shoot?”

Who was Bajendra Biswas? Hindu man killed in Bangladesh as co-worker said “Shall I shoot?”

Another Hindu man has been killed in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, marking the third such incident in less than a week and the second in the region, amid growing concern over violence against minorities.

The victim, Bajendra Biswas, was shot dead by a co-worker while on security duty at a garment factory in Bhaluka upazila on Monday evening. Police have arrested the accused, identified as Noman Mia.

How the shooting took place

The incident occurred around 6.30 pm at Sultana Sweaters Limited, part of the Labib Group, where both men were deployed as security personnel. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the accused suddenly opened fire with a government-issued shotgun, critically injuring Biswas in the left thigh.

He was rushed to the Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Recounting the incident, Ansar member APC Azahar Ali said, "Ansar members Noman Mia and Bajendra were sitting together in my room at the time of the incident. Suddenly, he pointed a gun (shotgun) at Bajendra's thigh and said, 'Shall I shoot?' and then fired. After that, Noman ran away."

He added that there was no argument between the two before the shooting.

Who was Bajendra Biswas?

Bajendra Biswas, aged around 40, was an employee at Sultana Sweaters Limited in Mehrabari, Mymensingh. He was the son of Probitra Biswas from Kadirpur in Sylhet Sadar.

Biswas was a member of Bangladesh Ansar, a paramilitary auxiliary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Ansar personnel are typically deployed to provide security at factories, banks, and other key installations.

Accused arrested, probe underway

Confirming the arrest, Mymensingh district Additional Superintendent of Police (Finance and Administration) Abdullah Al Mamun said an immediate operation was launched in the early hours of Tuesday, leading to Noman Mia’s arrest.

He said a detailed investigation has been initiated to determine the motive behind the attack and that Biswas’s body has been sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Third killing in December raises alarm

The killing marks the third such incident involving Hindus in December and the second in Mymensingh district.

On December 18, a Hindu factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob over false blasphemy allegations, with his body later hung from a tree and set on fire. On December 24, another Hindu youth, Amrit Mondal, was allegedly beaten to death in a separate mob attack.

India voices concern over minority violence

The latest incident comes amid reports of rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh under the Yunus-led interim government.

Last week, India expressed grave concern over what it described as “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, and said it was closely monitoring developments in the neighbouring country.