Another Hindu businessman stabbed to death in Bangladesh days before national polls

A Hindu businessman was killed in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh on Monday, just a few days ahead of the upcoming polls to the elect the prime minister.

62-year-old Susen Chandra Sarkar, a rice trader, was hacked to death insidehis shop in Mymensingh Trishal at around 11 pm on Monday, according to bdnews 24.

Trishal Police Station chief (OC) Muhammad Firoz Hossain said that the attackers left the trader inside his shop and closed the shutters before fleeing the scene.

Sarkar’s shop “Bhai Bhai Enterprise” is located at the Bogar Bazar intersection in the Upazila. He was a resident of Southkanda village in the same area.

Police officials are still trying to determine the motive behind the killing. Officer Hossain said that an investigation has been launched.

Bangladesh has been seeing a rising number of mob lynchings and targeted attacks against its minority Hindu population over the past few months.

On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker, was publicly lynched in Mymensingh, sparking massive outrage. Footage of the violent incident spread online showing the brutal nature of the crime. India strongly condemned the killing and called the continuing violence against minorities in the country, concerning.

In another incident, Amrit Mohal was beaten to death by residents following allegations of extortion.

Mani Chakraborty, a Hindu grocery shop owner from Narsingdi, was killed on January 5, by assailants who attacked him at his shop.

Bangladesh is approaching its general election which is scheduled for February 12, 2026. It is the country’s first major election since political unrest in 2024.

The election marks a critical point for the country, which has been ruled by an interim government since its former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted following massive protests in the country.