MYMENSINGH, Bangladesh (Diya TV) — A 62-year-old Hindu businessman was hacked to death in Bangladesh just days before the country’s national parliamentary elections, raising fresh concerns about minority safety and political violence ahead of the vote. Police said unknown attackers killed Sushen Chandra Sarkar on the night of Feb. 9 at his rice shop in Mymensingh district, about three days before Bangladesh heads to the polls. The killing has intensified fears among members of the Hindu minority community, who report a rise in attacks in recent months.
The attack took place around 11 p.m. at Bogar Bazar in the Trishal sub-district. Sarkar owned a rice trading shop called “Bhai Bhai Enterprise” at the busy market intersection. According to police, assailants entered the shop and hacked Sarkar with a sharp weapon. They left him inside, pulled down the shutters, and fled the scene. Authorities said the attackers also stole several hundred thousand taka from the store.
Sarkar’s family grew worried when he did not return home. They went searching for him and found him lying in a pool of blood inside the locked shop. Relatives rushed him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police have launched an investigation. Officers have not announced any arrests.
Sujan Sarkar, the victim’s son, said his family had no known disputes with anyone.
“We have had a rice business for a long time. No one had any enmity with us,” he said. “The criminals stole several hundred thousand taka from the store after they brutally killed my father.”
The family has placed the body in the hospital morgue for a postmortem examination. Sujan Sarkar urged authorities to quickly identify and punish those responsible. Community members in Dakshinkanda village described Sarkar as a well-known local trader. His killing has left many residents shaken.
The murder comes amid reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. In the same Mymensingh district, another Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was recently lynched and burned in a separate attack.
Local Hindu groups say these incidents have created fear ahead of the national elections. Bangladesh will vote on Thursday to elect members of parliament and choose its next prime minister. Security forces have increased patrols in some areas. However, minority leaders say they want stronger protection and clear action against attackers.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the safety of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, especially since the political transition in August 2024 under an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. Activists report cases of murder, arson, temple vandalism, and land seizures targeting minority communities. They say extremists often use unverified blasphemy accusations to incite mobs and justify attacks on homes and businesses.
International monitoring bodies, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, have reported a steady rise in intimidation and violence against Hindu communities throughout 2025. Bangladesh has a Muslim majority population, with Hindus forming the largest religious minority. Rights groups say the protection of minorities remains a key test of the country’s democratic system, especially during election periods.
India has publicly expressed concern over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. On Friday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh to take firm action against communal violence.
“We continue to witness a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities as well as their homes and businesses by extremists,” Jaiswal said.
He also criticized what he described as a tendency to attribute such incidents to personal rivalries or political disputes. He warned that failing to address the issue directly could embolden perpetrators and increase fear among minority communities.
The killing of Sarkar has added to tensions as Bangladesh prepares for a crucial parliamentary vote. Political observers say election periods often heighten anxiety among vulnerable groups. Police in Mymensingh continue to investigate both killings. Authorities have not confirmed whether the attacks are connected to election-related tensions.
