In a tragic incident highlighting the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu man lost his life on Tuesday after being chased by a mob. The victim, identified as Mithun Sarkar, was accused of theft in the Naogaon district.
A Fatal Flight for Safety
According to reports from authorities cited by the ANI news agency, a group of people pursued Mithun Sarkar, levelling allegations of theft against him. Terrified for his life, Sarkar attempted to escape his pursuers by jumping into a nearby canal. His body was later recovered from the waterway on Tuesday afternoon. This death adds to a grim tally of violence that has seen a sharp increase in recent months.
A Disturbing Pattern of Targeted Attacks
The killing of Mithun Sarkar is not an isolated event but part of a horrifying wave of assaults against minority communities in Bangladesh. The violence has intensified over the past days and throughout December 2025.
Just a day before this incident, on Monday, a Hindu businessman and acting editor of a local newspaper was shot dead in the head by unidentified assailants in Jessore district. On the same day, a 40-year-old Hindu grocery shop owner was murdered with a sharp weapon in Narsingdi city.
These brutal killings followed the horrific lynching of 50-year-old Khokhon Chandra Das in Shariatpur district. Das was stabbed, robbed, set on fire, and later succumbed to his injuries in a Dhaka hospital.
December's Trail of Blood and Terror
The violence has been persistent. The month of December 2025 witnessed a series of targeted attacks. On December 24, Amrit Mondal was lynched in Rajbari town over allegations of extortion. A week prior, 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das was brutally lynched in Mymensingh, and his body was set ablaze. A video of this atrocity circulated widely, causing outrage. Das had been accused of blasphemy.
Data from the Council of Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian Unity paints a stark picture. It is estimated that at least 51 incidents targeting religious minority communities occurred in Bangladesh in December alone. These included 10 murders, alongside cases of rape, arson, and looting.
Political Backdrop and Rising Tensions
This surge in violence unfolds against a tense political climate in Bangladesh. The country is preparing for parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, 2026. These will be the first national polls since the ouster of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. The period leading up to elections in the region has often been marked by social unrest and communal tensions, which appear to be manifesting in these targeted attacks.
The repeated incidents have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among Hindu and other minority communities in Bangladesh. The international community, particularly India which shares a deep cultural and historical bond with Bangladesh, watches with growing concern as the violence threatens regional stability and the principles of secular coexistence.
