Bangladesh Records Fifth Shooting Death of a Hindu Man in Three Weeks, Raising Serious Law and Order Concerns

Panic gripped Bangladesh’s Jashore district on Monday evening after another member of the Hindu minority community was shot dead in public. The incident took place around 5:45 p.m. at Kopalia Bazar in Ward No. 17 of Manirampur Upazila. The killing comes amid continuing political unrest, protests, and sporadic violence across the country, and marks the fifth fatal attack on Hindu men in separate violent incidents over the past three weeks—triggering serious concerns over Law and Order and minority safety.

The deceased has been identified as Rana Pratap, 45, son of Tushar Kanti Bairagi and a resident of Arua village under Keshabpur upazila. According to local sources, Rana Pratap was known in the area and had gone to the market on routine business when the attack occurred.

Eyewitness accounts and preliminary police findings indicate that Rana Pratap was targeted by unidentified attackers while he was inside the market area. He was reportedly shot multiple times at close range and died on the spot, leaving little opportunity for bystanders to intervene or provide assistance.

Following the shooting, fear and chaos spread rapidly through the bazar and surrounding neighborhoods. Shopkeepers shut their businesses, and residents fled the area in panic. Law enforcement officials from Manirampur Police Station rushed to the scene soon after receiving reports of the incident and worked to restore calm.

Manirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rajiullah Khan confirmed the killing, stating, “We are present at the scene. The process of recovering the body and sending it for post-mortem examination is underway.” He added that additional police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest.

Police have launched a formal investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the shooting. Authorities say they are reviewing local intelligence, questioning witnesses, and examining possible links to recent incidents of violence reported across the country.

This latest killing comes against the backdrop of sustained protests and heightened tensions in several parts of Bangladesh. Over the past three weeks, at least five Hindu men have lost their lives in separate violent episodes, deepening fears within the minority community and drawing attention to the deteriorating security situation.

Among the earlier incidents was the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker who was beaten to death during a bout of mob violence. Another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was also reportedly killed in connection with the recent unrest.

In a separate attack, Bajendra Biswas, a Hindu resident, was shot dead in the Mymensingh region. Additionally, on New Year’s Eve, a Hindu businessman named Khokon Chandra Das was brutally attacked by a mob and set on fire. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the National Burn Institute in Dhaka. That incident occurred on December 31 in Koneshwar Union of Damudya upazila in Shariatpur district, near Keurbhanga Bazar.

As the number of violent incidents continues to rise, civil society groups and minority rights advocates are increasingly urging Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability, strengthen law enforcement, and provide adequate protection to vulnerable communities amid the ongoing national turmoil.