Hindu man stabbed and set ablaze in Bangladesh survives by jumping into pond; fourth attack in two weeks
A Hindu man was brutally attacked by a violent group in Bangladesh, marking the fourth reported assault on a member of the minority community in the past two weeks amid growing concerns over their safety.
The victim, Khokon Das (50), was stabbed, beaten and set on fire on December 31 in the Shariatpur district, according to local media reports.
Das survived the attack after managing to jump into a nearby pond when his assailants fled, preventing fatal burn injuries.
He was allegedly returning home after closing his medical shop when a mob confronted him.
He was stabbed in the lower abdomen, struck on the head and doused with petrol before being set ablaze. His condition later worsened, and he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
“My husband is a simple man. He never harmed anyone,” Das’ wife said, appealing for justice. “I don’t know who did this.”
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting Hindus in Bangladesh.
On December 24, a 29-year-old Hindu youth, Amrit Mondal, was allegedly lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar Union.
Earlier, on December 18, another Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das (25), was killed in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh following false blasphemy accusations.
His body was later hung from a tree and set on fire.
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has condemned the killings but maintained that there was no communal angle, attributing the violence to criminal activity and extortion.
However, the incidents have sparked outrage among human rights groups and raised alarm internationally.
India has expressed “grave concern” over what it described as “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, saying it is closely monitoring developments.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted earlier this year, accused the interim government of failing to protect religious minorities and allowing extremists to act with impunity.
The Bangladesh government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding all communities.
The latest attack comes amid strained ties between India and Bangladesh, even as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar paid a brief visit to Dhaka on December 31 to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and convey condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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