Narsingdi police investigate suspicious fire claiming young man's life
Fears of targeted violence have resurfaced in Bangladesh following the tragic death of a 25-year-old man in the Narsingdi district. Chanchal Bhowmik, a Hindu youth, was burned to death late Friday night while sleeping inside a garage. While local authorities initially responded to a fire alarm, emerging evidence points toward potential foul play, adding to the tension gripping the nation ahead of the upcoming elections.
Narsingdi Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Faruque confirmed that investigators are looking into suspicious activity recorded near the scene. Speaking to the press, he noted that CCTV footage captured an unidentified individual moving around the area shortly before the blaze erupted. Although the fire started inside the shop, police are currently trying to determine if it was caused by an electrical short circuit or an "external factor" orchestrated by someone else. Fire service personnel had to break open the shutters to reach Bhowmik, but he was found charred to death. No arrests have been made as of Sunday.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating instability in Bangladesh. With national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, the political climate remains volatile. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in exile, has strongly criticized the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. In a recent address, she described the country as having plunged into an "age of terror," citing a breakdown in law and order that has left minorities vulnerable.
International observers are also raising alarms. A recent demonstration in London’s Parliament Square saw hundreds of diaspora members protesting the persecution of minorities. Back home, data from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council paints a grim picture, with over 50 incidents of violence, including murder and arson, reported in December alone.
India has officially registered its concern regarding the situation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that independent assessments indicate nearly 2,900 violent incidents against minorities since the interim government took charge in August 2024. As investigations into Bhowmik's death continue, the case has become a flashpoint for broader anxieties regarding safety and justice in the region.
WIth Agency Inputs, image Source: The Week
