DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Hindu schoolteacher’s home was set on fire in Bangladesh’s Sylhet district, the latest in a series of violent incidents that have heightened fears among minority communities across the country.
The attack took place in Gowainghat upazila, where the house of Birendra Kumar Dey was allegedly set ablaze, triggering panic among his family members and nearby residents. Video footage of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing flames quickly engulfing the home as family members attempted to flee.
Local media reports said the incident occurred in Bahor village of Nandirgaon union under Gowainghat upazila. According to those reports, the Hindu household was allegedly targeted by Islamist groups, adding to growing concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
The arson attack follows another deadly incident reported earlier this week in Feni district. Local media said a Hindu man was hacked and stabbed to death in Daganbhuiyan upazila, underscoring what observers describe as an alarming escalation in violence.
The body of 27-year-old auto-rickshaw driver Samir Das was found in a crop field in Jagatpur village on Monday. Citing family members and police, the Bengali-language daily Manobkantha reported that Samir had left home in his autorickshaw on Sunday evening but did not return. After hours of searching, local residents discovered his body lying in a field in Jagatpur village under the Sadar union of the upazila.
Police later arrived at the scene and recovered the body, according to the report.
The killing marked the ninth such incident reported in the past 24 days, highlighting a troubling surge in violence targeting Hindu communities across Bangladesh.
On January 9, India voiced deep concern over what it described as a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh. New Delhi said it is closely monitoring the situation in the neighboring country and expressed hope that acts of communal violence would be addressed decisively.
Bangladesh has seen increasing reports of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, drawing criticism and concern from human rights organizations and observers around the world. (Source: IANS)
