Hindu Auto Driver Brutally Killed in Bangladesh's Feni District
In a disturbing new incident, Samir Das, a 28-year-old auto driver, has been beaten to death in Daganbhuiyan, located in Bangladesh's Feni district. Local police officials state this appears to be a pre-planned murder. This attack marks the latest in a series of violent assaults targeting the Hindu minority community in the Muslim-majority nation.
A Pattern of Violence Against Minorities
Samir Das was killed on Sunday night. His death represents the eighth such fatality since December 18. That earlier date saw the lynching of garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh. Attacks on Hindu individuals and their properties have continued unabated across Bangladesh in recent weeks.
According to a police officer involved in the Feni case, the assailants used country-made weapons during the assault. "Samir was beaten to death. The attackers stabbed him and then fled the scene using his battery-operated auto-rickshaw. It appears to be a pre-planned murder," the officer explained. Authorities confirm that no arrests have been made in connection with the killing so far.
Simmering Tensions and Political Context
The incident in Daganbhuiyan occurred on the same day that another prominent Hindu figure died under controversial circumstances. Proloy Chaki, a renowned musician and senior functionary of the ruling Awami League party, died in police custody. His family members have strongly rejected the police claim of a "natural death." They accuse the prison administration of denying him necessary medical care.
This ongoing violence against religious minorities, particularly Hindus, is now significantly straining diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India. Last week, the Indian government criticized the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration in Dhaka. India accused the government of attempting to whitewash the communal intent behind these crimes.
Diplomatic Fallout and Denials
In response to India's criticism, the Yunus-led administration sought to downplay the reports. Officials characterized the accounts of killings and other incidents as attempts "to destroy communal harmony through false propaganda." This exchange highlights the growing international concern and the domestic political tensions surrounding the issue of minority safety in Bangladesh.
The persistent attacks raise serious questions about the security and protection of minority communities in the country. The lack of arrests in the latest case adds to the sense of impunity and fear.
