In a terrifying pre-dawn attack, two expatriate Hindu families in Bangladesh's Chittagong district narrowly escaped with their lives after assailants locked them inside their homes and set the houses on fire. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, marks the sixth such targeted arson attack against the minority community in the area within just five days, raising serious security concerns and diplomatic tensions.
Night of Terror in Sultanpur Village
The attack unfolded between 3:15 am and 4:00 am in Sultanpur village, located in the Raozan area of Chittagong. According to officials, the attackers first secured the doors of the two houses from the outside, trapping the sleeping families inside before setting the structures ablaze. The eight residents, belonging to the families of Sukh Shil and Anil Shil, awoke to find their homes filled with smoke and their escape routes blocked.
"We escaped by cutting through the tin roof and bamboo fencing," recounted one of the survivors, describing the desperate measures they had to take to avoid being burned alive. The local police confirmed the sequence of events, noting the deliberate and malicious nature of the attack.
A Disturbing Pattern of Targeted Violence
This attack is not an isolated event. Raozan police station in-charge Sajedul Islam informed reporters that the method used mirrors previous assaults in the region. He specifically cited attacks on houses in Dheuapara on Saturday and three homes in Keotia on Friday. In each case, miscreants followed the same chilling modus operandi: locking doors from the outside at night while the inhabitants were asleep and then setting the properties on fire.
This series of coordinated attacks within a short span points to a targeted campaign of intimidation and violence against the Hindu minority community in the area. The frequency and brutality of these incidents have spread fear and insecurity among the local minority population.
Rising Tensions and Diplomatic Repercussions
The latest arson attack is likely to further strain the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh. Ties were already under pressure following the recent lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh last week. The Indian government has consistently expressed deep concern over the safety and security of minority communities in Bangladesh.
These repeated acts of violence against Hindu families, many of whom have ties to India, threaten to cast a shadow over the diplomatic dialogue and people-to-people connections between the two neighboring nations. The situation calls for urgent and decisive action from Bangladeshi authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further escalation.
The local police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. However, the community awaits concrete steps that will ensure their protection and bring an end to this alarming cycle of targeted attacks.
