Another Hindu Youth Murdered in Bangladesh: Beaten and Then Poisoned

New Delhi: Incidents targeting members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh show no signs of stopping. The latest case is from Sunamganj district. On Thursday, a Hindu man named Joy Mahapatra was murdered. The deceased’s family alleges that a local man brutally beat Joy and then poisoned him. Joy was admitted to the ICU of MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Just a few days earlier, the death of 25-year-old Mithun Sarkar came to light. A mob chased him on suspicion of theft. He jumped into a canal to escape the mob and drowned. His body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, on December 18, 27-year-old Deepu Chandra Das was beaten to death in Mymensingh district. He was accused of blasphemy. The mob first brutally beat him, then hanged his body from a tree and set it on fire. Police have arrested the main accused, Yasin Arafat, in this case. The investigation revealed that the blasphemy accusation against Deepu Chandra Das was completely false and merely a rumor.

Growing Threat to Minorities
Amidst the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government after the 2024 uprising and preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections, violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh has increased. According to a statement from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, at least 51 incidents of communal violence were reported in December alone. These include 10 murders, 23 cases of looting and arson, 10 incidents of robbery and theft, four cases of detention and torture on false blasphemy charges, one attempted rape, and three incidents of assault. In addition, the homes, temples, and businesses of minorities have been targeted.

Threats issued for celebrating Makar Sankranti
According to another report, the extremist organization Jamaat-e-Islami has targeted Hindu festivals. Jamaat-e-Islami has warned of strict action against playing music, flying kites, or celebrating in any way during Makar Sankranti. It is worth noting that Makar Sankranti is called Shakrain in Bangladesh and is celebrated with great fanfare.