KUET dismisses 5 Hindu staff amid rising minority attacks in Bangladesh
Synopsis
In a single week, Bangladesh has seen five Hindu university staff dismissed from KUET, a Hindu salon owner allegedly stabbed to death in Mymensingh, and three Hindu homes looted in Rangpur — a convergence of incidents critics say reflects systemic insecurity for minorities that has persisted across successive administrations.
Key Takeaways
KUET dismissed seven employees — including three Hindu faculty and two Hindu staff members — at its 115th syndicate meeting , citing alleged disciplinary violations.
The dismissed include Professor Pintu Chandra Shil (CSE), Professor Subrata Talapatra (IEM), and Assistant Professor Nibir Mondal (ESE).
Hindu salon owner Rabendra Rishi, 43 , was allegedly stabbed to death in Bhaluka, Mymensingh on Tuesday evening; accused Saddam, 26 , has been arrested.
Three Hindu homes in Chak Karimpur village, Rangpur were vandalised and looted on Monday night, allegedly following a social media post.
Awami League condemned the Rangpur attack, stating minorities have faced 'persistent insecurity' since August 2024 .
Critics argue the incidents reflect a pattern spanning both the former Muhammad Yunus -led interim government and the current BNP administration.
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) has dismissed seven employees, among them three Hindu faculty members and two other Hindu staff, over alleged disciplinary violations and irregularities, local Bangladeshi media reported on Friday, 30 October 2026. The development has deepened concerns over the treatment of minority communities — particularly Hindus — in Bangladesh, coming amid a documented pattern of violence and institutional exclusion.
Who Was Dismissed
According to KUET Registrar Engineer Anichur Rahman Bhuiyan, the decision was taken at the university's 115th syndicate meeting. The dismissed faculty members are Professor Pintu Chandra Shil of the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department, Professor Subrata Talapatra of the Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) department, and Assistant Professor Nibir Mondal of the Energy Science and Engineering (ESE) department.
Two non-teaching Hindu employees were also dismissed: Deputy Registrar Nimai Chandra Mistry and office assistant Satyajit Kumar Dutta, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Reasons cited were alleged disciplinary violations and other irregularities, though no further official detail has been made public.
A Pattern of Violence Against Hindus
The KUET dismissals arrive against a backdrop of escalating incidents targeting minority communities. Earlier this week, a 43-year-old Hindu man, Rabendra Rishi — a salon owner — was allegedly stabbed to death in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district on Tuesday evening after reportedly refusing to provide a haircut on credit. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Saddam, allegedly stabbed Rishi in the chest and neck with a sharp knife, killing him on the spot, according to Prothom Alo, citing police.
Mohammad Zahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhaluka Model Police Station, said after Saddam's arrest: 'The accused is behaving crazy. A five-day remand has been sought for his interrogation. The body has been recovered and handed over to the family after the autopsy.'
Hindu Homes Vandalised in Rangpur
In a separate incident on Monday night, three homes belonging to Hindu families were vandalised and looted in Chak Karimpur village of Pirganj upazila in Rangpur district, reportedly following a social media post alleged to have offended the religious sentiments of Muslims, according to local media citing police. The affected homes belonged to three brothers — Bishu Chandra Mohanta, 50, Jagadish Chandra Mohanta, 60, and Dinesh Chandra Mohanta, 46.
Speaking to The Daily Star, Bishu said the attackers 'damaged his television, furniture, walls and doors and stole two goats from his house.' His brother Jagadish's wife, Arati Rani, said: 'When the attackers stormed our house, we pleaded with them to stop. But they threatened to kill me.'
Political Response and Broader Context
Condemning the Rangpur attack, Bangladesh's Awami League stated that minority communities have faced 'persistent insecurity' in the country since August 2024. The party said: 'Allegations of religious insult must never become a license for mob violence, looting, intimidation or collective punishment. Every accused person deserves due process; every victim deserves equal protection under the law.'
Critics argue this pattern of incidents — spanning alleged institutional action, targeted killings, and mob violence — reflects a systemic vulnerability for Hindus in Bangladesh that has persisted through both the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration. The incidents are being closely watched by India and international human rights observers.
With no independent investigation yet announced for the KUET dismissals and the Rangpur attack suspects still to be formally charged, the coming weeks will test whether Bangladesh's institutions can provide equal protection to its minority citizens.
Point of View
Taken in isolation, might be attributed to routine disciplinary processes — but their timing and concentration among Hindu employees, set against a week that also saw a Hindu man allegedly stabbed and Hindu homes looted, make that reading difficult to sustain. What is striking is the institutional dimension: if universities become sites of minority exclusion, the harm extends beyond individual careers to the longer-term retention of Hindu professionals in public life. Bangladesh's successive governments — interim and elected — have repeatedly invoked due process while delivering little measurable protection. The Awami League's condemnation rings hollow given its own record, but the BNP administration now owns the accountability gap. India and international observers are watching, and Dhaka's credibility on minority rights is eroding with each incident that goes uninvestigated.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did KUET dismiss Hindu teachers and staff?
KUET dismissed five Hindu employees — three faculty members and two staff — citing alleged disciplinary violations and irregularities, according to KUET Registrar Anichur Rahman Bhuiyan. The decision was taken at the university's 115th syndicate meeting, though no detailed public rationale has been released for individual cases.
Who are the Hindu teachers dismissed from KUET?
The three dismissed faculty members are Professor Pintu Chandra Shil of the CSE department, Professor Subrata Talapatra of the IEM department, and Assistant Professor Nibir Mondal of the ESE department. Two non-teaching staff — Deputy Registrar Nimai Chandra Mistry and office assistant Satyajit Kumar Dutta — were also dismissed.
What happened to the Hindu man stabbed to death in Bangladesh?
Rabendra Rishi, a 43-year-old Hindu salon owner, was allegedly stabbed to death in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district on Tuesday evening after reportedly refusing to provide a haircut on credit. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Saddam, has been arrested and a five-day remand sought for interrogation, according to local police.
What is the situation of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh under the BNP government?
According to local media reports and statements from the Awami League, Hindu and other minority communities in Bangladesh have faced persistent insecurity since August 2024, a pattern that critics say has continued under the current BNP administration following the earlier Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Incidents have included alleged mob violence, property destruction, and reported institutional discrimination.
What happened to Hindu families in Rangpur, Bangladesh?
Three homes belonging to brothers Bishu Chandra Mohanta, Jagadish Chandra Mohanta, and Dinesh Chandra Mohanta in Chak Karimpur village, Pirganj upazila, Rangpur district, were vandalised and looted on Monday night. The attack allegedly followed a social media post said to have offended religious sentiments, according to local police cited by local media.
