Two Hindu men, Rana Pratap Bairagi and Sarat Mani Chakraborty, were killed within hours of each other in separate attacks in Bangladesh, intensifying concerns over the country’s deteriorating law and order situation ahead of national elections. In both incidents, unidentified assailants targeted the victims at their workplaces and carried out fatal attacks before fleeing the scene.
While authorities have not officially confirmed a communal motive, the killings occurred amid a surge in violence against minorities, particularly members of the Hindu community, in the Muslim-majority nation. Consequently, the incidents have deepened fear and uncertainty among minority groups as political tensions rise.
Killing of Rana Pratap Bairagi in Jessore
According to Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo, 38-year-old Rana Pratap Bairagi lived in Arua village of Keshabpur upazila in Jessore district under Khulna Division. He was the son of Tushar Kanti Bairagi. Bairagi owned an ice manufacturing factory in Kapalia Bazar in Monirampur and also served as the acting editor of the Narail-based newspaper Dainik BD Khobor.
Police sources stated that several criminal cases had previously been registered against Bairagi, including one at Abhaynagar police station and three at Keshabpur police station. However, officials did not immediately disclose details related to those cases.
The attack took place around 5:45 pm on Monday (January 5) at Kopaliya Bazaar. Reports citing local residents and police said that three men arrived on a motorcycle and called Bairagi out of his factory. They then led him to an alley near Kapalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre, where they shot him at close range before escaping.
Also Read: A Life Lost to Brutal Intolerance: The Tragic Killing of Khokon Chandra Das in Bangladesh
Bairagi died on the spot. Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee President Bashudeb Dhar confirmed the killing and said that the victim was shot multiple times. Monirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Rajiullah Khan added that the attackers also slit Bairagi’s throat. Police said they had launched an investigation but had yet to determine the exact motive.
However, law enforcement officials suggested that Bairagi may have been killed due to internal conflicts within the banned Purbo Banglar Communist Party, identifying him as an active member of the group.
Sarat Mani Chakraborty Killed in Narsingdi
Meanwhile, another Hindu man was killed later the same night in Narsingdi district. Sarat Mani Chakraborty, a 40-year-old grocery shop owner, came under attack at around 10 pm while he was at his shop in Charsindur Bazaar under Palash upazila.
According to The Federal, unidentified assailants assaulted Chakraborty with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. Local residents rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he died on the way. He is survived by his wife, Antara Mukherjee, and his 12-year-old son, Abhik Chakraborty.
Local media reports said Chakraborty had previously worked in South Korea and had returned to Bangladesh a few years ago to settle down and run his business.
The two killings add to a growing list of violent incidents targeting Hindus across Bangladesh in recent weeks. On January 3, Khokon Chandra Das died after attackers brutally hacked him and set him on fire. Earlier, on December 24, a mob lynched Amrit Mondal in Rajbari’s Pangsha upazila over alleged extortion. On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das was lynched and burned in Mymensingh over allegations of blasphemy.
In addition, a report circulated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on January 5, 2026, claimed that pro-Pakistani Jamaat members attempted to rob Shyama Jewellers in Khulna New Market. The post alleged that the attackers aimed to economically and socially intimidate minority Hindus. Authorities have not independently verified the claim.
Pro-Pakistani Jamaat members attempted to rob Shyama Jewellers in Khulna New Market. Their sole aim is to destroy the minority Hindus in every way. (5/1/2026) pic.twitter.com/yvnH9gxbXQ
— Avro Neel Hindu 🕉️🇧🇩 (@avroneel80) January 5, 2026
Unidentified men also set fire to the homes of Shukh Shil and Anil Shil, both Qatari expatriate workers, in Chattogram’s Raojan area on December 23. The residents managed to escape without injuries.
Political observers have warned that mob violence and targeted attacks against minorities have emerged as a serious challenge in Bangladesh’s shifting political landscape. India has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of minorities, especially Hindus. According to the 2022 census, Bangladesh is home to about 13.13 million Hindus, accounting for nearly 7.95% of the population.
