Two Hindu Men Killed in Bangladesh Ahead of Elections, ICG Warns of Further Attacks
In a deeply concerning development, two Hindu men have been brutally murdered in separate incidents across Bangladesh's Moulvibazar and Mymensingh districts, just ahead of the country's crucial elections scheduled for Thursday. The International Crisis Group has issued a stark warning, highlighting a "real danger" of further attacks targeting not only political candidates but also Awami League supporters and Bangladesh's Hindu minority community.
First Incident: Tea Worker Found Dead in Moulvibazar
In Moulvibazar district, the body of Ratan Shuvo Kar, a 28-year-old tea worker, was discovered in a tea garden located in Kamalganj upazila. According to reports from The Daily Star, the victim was found with his hands and feet tied, bearing visible injury marks and covered in blood. The discovery was made by local residents around 10 am yesterday, who promptly alerted the authorities.
Ratan Kar was employed at the Champara Tea Garden under Islampur union. His elder brother, Laxman Kar, revealed that the family had been searching for him since the previous night. "This morning, we were informed that his body was lying in the garden. We went there and identified him. We do not know why he was killed," he stated, expressing the family's grief and confusion.
Some local residents suspect that Ratan may have been killed elsewhere and later dumped in the tea garden. Police have sent the body to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital for an autopsy and have confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic death.
Second Incident: Rice Trader Brutally Hacked in Mymensingh
In a separate and equally horrific incident in Mymensingh district, Susen Chandra Sarkar, a 62-year-old rice trader, was brutally hacked to death inside his shop in Trishal upazila. The murder occurred around 11 pm on Monday at the Bogar Bazar intersection, as confirmed by Trishal police station officer-in-charge Muhammad Firoz Hossain.
Police reports indicate that unidentified assailants attacked Sarkar with a sharp weapon, killing him before locking the shop from the outside and fleeing the scene. Family members later discovered him lying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Sarkar's son, Sujan Sarkar, provided harrowing details to reporters: "After brutally killing my father, the miscreants looted several lakhs of taka from the shop." He further emphasized that their family had been running the rice business for many years without any known disputes or enmity with anyone, adding to the mystery and shock surrounding the attack.
Broader Context and Government Response
These killings occur against the backdrop of Bangladesh's first election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed in 2024 following weeks of mass protests. Hasina fled the country, and her party has been banned from participating in the upcoming polls, creating a volatile political environment.
The International Crisis Group's warning underscores the heightened risks during this period, with minorities and political figures potentially facing increased violence. In a related development, the interim government is providing financial and housing assistance to the family of Dipu Chandra Das (Dipu Das), who was beaten and burnt to death in the Square Masterbari area of Bhaluka Upazila in Mymensingh district on December 18.
As investigations continue into these latest murders, concerns are mounting about the safety and security of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh during this critical electoral phase. The authorities face mounting pressure to ensure justice and prevent further acts of violence in the lead-up to the elections.
