Bangladesh Hindu
Who is Khokan Chandra Das? Hindu businessman set on fire in Bangladesh dies after New Year’s eve attack
Khokan Chandra Das, a middle-aged Hindu businessman who ran a pharmacy at Keurbhanga Bazar in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district, succumbed to burn injuries in Dhaka on Saturday, hospital officials said.
Das was undergoing treatment at the National Burn Institute after being critically injured in a violent attack earlier this week.
“Khokan Das, who was injured in a fire attack in Damudya Upazila of Shariatpur, passed away at 7:20 am today at the National Burn Institute,” Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, Professor at the institute, told ANI.
Hospital sources said Das had been under treatment for nearly three days. Doctors noted that around 30 per cent of his body had sustained burns, with severe injuries to his face and respiratory tract, which proved fatal.
According to family members, Das was stabbed, beaten and set on fire on December 31 while returning home after closing his medical shop. Local media reports said he initially survived the attack after jumping into a nearby pond when the assailants fled, which helped limit the extent of the burn injuries.
However, his condition deteriorated, prompting his transfer to a hospital in Dhaka, where he later died.
Das’s nephew-in-law, Pranto Das, told ANI that the family is demanding a thorough investigation and justice.
“None of the perpetrators should be allowed to escape. All those identified must be arrested without delay,” he said.
The attack on Das is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting Hindus in Bangladesh in recent weeks.
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, Dipu Chandra Das (25) was killed in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh following alleged false blasphemy accusations. His body was later reportedly hung from a tree and set on fire.
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has condemned the killings but denied any communal angle, attributing the incidents to criminal activity and extortion. However, the attacks have sparked outrage among human rights groups and raised concerns internationally.
India has expressed “grave concern” over what it described as “unremitting hostility” towards minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, and said it is closely monitoring the situation.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted earlier this year, has 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 incident comes amid strained India–Bangladesh relations, 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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