In a chilling incident that has reignited fears over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, 23-year-old Hindu mechanic Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik was burned alive while sleeping inside a garage in Narsingdi district late on Friday night.
The attack, captured on CCTV footage, has been described by family members and local residents as a premeditated murder amid a broader surge in targeted violence against Hindus as the country approaches its February 12 general elections.
Bhowmik, originally from Lakshmipur village in Cumilla district, had been working at a car workshop near the Mosque Market in Narsingdi’s Police Lines area. According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, assailants poured petrol on the shop’s shutter from outside and set it ablaze, trapping Bhowmik inside.
The fire spread rapidly due to flammable materials like petrol and oil stored in the garage, leaving his body charred beyond recognition. Fire services took nearly an hour to control the blaze, after which his remains were recovered and sent for autopsy.
“This was no accident; it was a planned killing,” Bhowmik’s family told local media, demanding swift arrests and the harshest punishment for the perpetrators. Police have collected evidence from the scene, including CCTV footage showing several individuals deliberately igniting the fire.
Narsingdi Sadar model police station Officer-in-Charge A.R.M. Al Mamun confirmed that multiple teams are working to identify and apprehend the suspects, treating the case as a serious homicide.
Hindus protest in Dhaka, London, demanding sanctions on Yunus regime
Jamaatโs Shadow Empire: Diplomatic charms abroad, authoritarian grip at home
Saraswati idol desecrated in Gopalganj amid wave of anti-Hindu violence
The tragedy has sparked outrage among local Hindu communities, who gathered to condemn the attack and urge authorities to enhance minority protections. “We are living in constant fear,” said a community leader in Narsingdi, echoing sentiments shared across social media platforms where users have highlighted the incident as part of a pattern of persecution.
A Spate Of Recent Attacks On Hindus
Bhowmik’s death marks at least the eighth reported murder of a Hindu individual in Bangladesh since early January 2026, contributing to a disturbing trend of violence that has intensified following the ouster of the Awami League government in August 2024.
Human rights organisations and minority advocacy groups have documented a sharp rise in assaults, lynchings, and property seizures targeting Hindus, who constitute about 8% of the population but have seen their numbers dwindle from 31% in 1971 due to ongoing migration amid persecution.
Key recent incidents include:
– January 11: Samir Kumar Das, a 28-year-old Hindu auto-rickshaw driver in Feni’s Daganbhuiyan upazila, was hacked to death with sharp weapons. His valuables were left untouched, leading family and locals to suspect extortion by activists linked to the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Police are investigating, but critics point to a “reign of terror” in the area.
– January 3-7: Multiple killings, including Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu businessman stabbed and set on fire in Shariatpur; Mithun Sarkar, 25, chased and drowned in a pond in Naogaon; and Muni Chakraborty shot dead in Narsingdi. Additionally, a Hindu widow was gang-raped in an unspecified district, and arson attacks targeted Hindu paddy fields in Lakshmipur.
UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel urges action on persecution of Hindus
Reward announced for info on arson attack targeting Hindu homes in Chittagong
Oikya Parishad demands BNP scrap Harunโs candidacy for anti-Hindu rhetoric
– December 2025: Dipu Chandra Das, a garment worker, was lynched and burned in Bhaluka on blasphemy allegations; Amrit Mondal was beaten to death in Rajbari on extortion charges; Liton Chandra Das was killed in a mob assault in Kaliganj; and Ripon Saha was crushed to death at a fuel station.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) reported 51 incidents against minorities in December 2025 alone, including 10 murders, 23 cases of land or temple occupations with arson, 10 thefts or robberies, four blasphemy-based detentions or tortures, one attempted rape, and three assaults. The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) tallied 116 minority deaths across 45 districts from June 2025 to early January 2026, often linked to mob violence, blasphemy claims, and arson.
Other reported victims in January include Joy Mahapatro (beaten and poisoned in Sunamganj), Rana Pratap, Shrabonti Ghosh, Moni Chakraborty, Liton Kali Ghosh, and Avi, bringing the total to at least 9 Hindus killed in 18 days.
Hate Campaigns And Political Context
Analysts link the violence to hate campaigns fueled by anti-India rhetoric and Islamist extremists, exacerbated by the political vacuum under the Jamaat-controlled interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Incidents often stem from false blasphemy accusations, extortion demands, or mob justice, with perpetrators enjoying apparent impunity. Rights groups like Human Rights Watch have noted a rise in violence against women, girls, and minorities, warning of a deteriorating human rights situation ahead of the polls.
Disappearance Drama: Once used against Awami League, now against Hindus
Arif Jebtik: Islamists run TMD campaign to eliminate Hindus, foil polls
Awami League leader Tofazzel Ronu takes responsibility for family of Dipu Das
BHBCOP’s acting general secretary Manindra Kumar Nath described minorities as “gripped by fear,” alleging deliberate intimidation to suppress voter turnout. “Religious freedoms must be protected,” he said, calling for international intervention. UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has urged action on Hindu persecution, while protests in London have demanded accountability from the Yunus administration.
The Bangladesh government, however, maintains that most incidents are criminal rather than communal, vowing to enforce the law against such violence. “Such acts will be met with the full force of the law,” a spokesperson stated, though critics argue investigations are often biased or incomplete.
As elections loom, advocates warn that without impartial probes and enhanced protections, violence risks deepening communal divides and eroding trust in the democratic process. International observers, including the UN and human rights bodies, are being urged to monitor the situation closely to prevent further atrocities.
English 
Bengali