Hindu shopkeeper set on fire dies during treatment in Dhaka

In a harrowing incident that has shocked communities on both sides of the border, Khokon Das, a Bengali Hindu businessman, has died after being brutally attacked and set on fire by a mob in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district. The tragedy marks the fourth reported fatal assault on a member of the minority community in just two weeks, raising alarms as the neighboring nation heads toward a volatile general election in 2026.

Brutal Ambush in Shariatpur

Khokon Das, 50, a small business owner running a medicine shop, was targeted late on December 31 while returning home after closing his store. According to local reports from Tiloi village in the Kanoir union, a group of assailants intercepted him, stabbing and beating him severely. In a horrific turn of events, the mob doused him with petrol and set him ablaze.

Despite sustaining critical injuries, Das managed to jump into a nearby pond to extinguish the flames. He was rushed to a local facility and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but he succumbed to his burn injuries during treatment. His grieving wife described him as a "simple man" with no enemies, pleading for answers as to why her husband was targeted.

A Pattern of Violence

The death of Khokon Das Bangladesh is not an isolated event but part of a disturbing spike in violence targeting minorities. Just days prior, another Hindu individual, Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker, was lynched, stripped, and burned alive by a mob.

These attacks are unfolding against a backdrop of severe political instability. Following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December 2025, the country has seen widespread street violence, arson attacks on media offices perceived as pro-India, and heightened polarization.

Rising Tensions Ahead of 2026 Elections

With the general election scheduled for February 2026, security experts fear the unrest is deepening. Indian diplomatic missions have already temporarily closed some visa centers due to safety concerns. Adding to the tension, a viral video recently surfaced showing a Bangladeshi youth leader allegedly boasting about killing a Hindu police officer, Sub-Inspector Santosh Bhabhu, and threatening further violence against law enforcement.

Reacting to the latest killing, the West Bengal BJP stated that attacks on Bengali Hindus are continuing "unabated," drawing parallels to similar brutal incidents in the region last year.