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

Khokon Das, a Hindu medical shop owner in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur, who was allegedly beaten by a mob adn set on fire, Saturday succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Das passed away at 7:20 am at the National Burn Institute in Bangladesh, Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, Professor of the National Burn Institute, said.

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Das was allegedly attacked by the mob while returning home on New Year’s Eve. The mob reportedly beat Das black and blue before pouring petrol on him and setting him on fire. He, however, survived the attack by jumping into a nearby pond, which helped douse the flames but later succumbed to the injuries today.

Meanwhile, Das’s nephew-in-law, Pranto Das, said that he had no political involvement and demanded the arrest of suspects.

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

He also mentioned the names of two suspects, adding that they want the accused to receive exemplary punishment.

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This was the fourth such attack on Hindus in Bangladesh in less than a month. Earlier on December 18, a Hindu garment factory worker named Dipu Chandra Das was lynched to death by a mob in Mymensingh over allegations of blasphemy. The mob had beaten Das to death, hung his body on a tree and set it on fire.

Later, it was revealed that he was killed over a dispute with his co-worker, who was apparently jealous of his promotion to the rank of a supervisor in the garment factory.

A few days later, another Hindu man named Amrit Mondal was beaten to death by a mob over allegations of extortion.

Hindu man attacked by mob, set on fire in Bangladesh amid continued violence against minorities

Last week, Bajendra Biswas, an Ansar member, was shot in the thigh by the accused Ansar member, Noman Mia. Biswas was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

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