Bangladesh: RAB arrests three accused in murder of Hindu businessman Khokan Das

The Bangladeshi Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Sunday said that it has arrested three accused in connection with the murder of Hindu businessman Khokan Das, who was brutally assaulted and set on fire on New Year’s Eve.

The accused have been identified as Sohag Khan (27), Rabbi Molla (21) and Palash Sardar (25). They were arrested from Kishoreganj district following a special operation.

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RAB said the accused have prior criminal records and that efforts are underway to ascertain the motive behind the murder of the Hindu businessman.

Das, who ran a medical shop in Shariatpur district, was attacked by a mob while returning home on December 31. The mob brutally assaulted him with sharp weapons before setting him on fire.

He somehow managed to jump into a nearby pond to survive the attack but sustained severe injuries. He was admitted to the National Burn Institute in Dhaka for treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

Also Read | Khokon Das, Hindu medical shop owner attacked and set ablaze in Bangladesh, succumbs to injuries

His nephew-in-law, Pranto Das, said that Khokan Das had no political involvement and demanded the arrest of all suspects.

“He had no involvement in politics, but we don’t know why he was murdered. We want a proper investigation into this matter and the arrest of the suspects. So far, no suspects had been arrested,” Pranto said.

He also named two suspects and added that the family wants the accused to receive exemplary punishment.

This was the fourth such attack on Hindus in Bangladesh in less than a month and comes amid rising violence against religious minorities in the South Asian nation.

The Indian government has also expressed concern over the increasing attacks on Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh, a country marred by violence since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in 2024.