Dhaka, Jan 25 (NationPress) In a shocking incident that underscores the rising violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, a 23-year-old Hindu man named Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik was allegedly burnt alive while he slept in a garage in Narsingdi, situated approximately 50 km from Dhaka. This tragic event has reignited fears regarding the safety of minority groups in the predominantly Muslim nation.

Bhowmik, who was the son of Khokan Chandra Bhowmik and lived in Lakshmipur village in Cumilla district, was employed at a garage in the vicinity of Khanabari Mosque Market, near Narsingdi Police Lines.

Reports from local media indicate that after finishing his work on Friday night, Bhowmik fell asleep in the garage, where unidentified assailants ignited the premises. Due to the large quantities of petrol, engine oil, and other flammable materials stored there, the fire escalated quickly, trapping Bhowmik inside. He ultimately succumbed to severe burn injuries and suffocation, with eyewitnesses labeling the act as a “planned murder.”

Authorities have secured CCTV footage from surrounding cameras that allegedly documented the assailants, although no arrests have been made yet. A police spokesperson remarked, “We are conducting a thorough investigation given the gravity of the situation. The body has been recovered, and the CCTV footage has been secured. Multiple police teams are engaged in identifying and apprehending the suspects.”

According to the 2022 census, Bangladesh’s Hindu population is around 13.13 million, constituting nearly 8 percent of the nation’s overall populace. Recently, incidents of violence against Hindus have surged, prompting India to express concerns about the safety of its minority community in the neighboring country.

This attack on Bhowmik follows a series of similar incidents targeting Hindus. Just last week, a Hindu sweetshop owner in Gazipur was fatally beaten while protecting an employee, and during the same timeframe, a Hindu household was set on fire in Sylhet, while a Hindu autorickshaw driver was stabbed to death in Feni.

Such occurrences emphasize the escalating anxieties of minority communities in Bangladesh, especially with national elections approaching, raising questions about the government’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations from extremist violence.