The Outpost | News Desk | January 7, 2026

​Bangladesh has witnessed a fresh and alarming spike in targeted violence against the minority Hindu community, with two more deaths reported within a span of just 24 hours. These back-to-back killings have brought the total number of Hindu casualties to six within the last 18 days, sparking international outrage and a deepening sense of insecurity among minorities.

​Brutal Murder in Narsingdi

Sarat Chakraborty Mani (40), a grocery shop owner in Narsingdi, was brutally hacked to death on Monday night. Mani, who had previously worked in South Korea before returning to start a business in his homeland, was attacked by unidentified assailants with sharp weapons while he was tending to his shop at Charsindur Bazaar.

​He succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Mani is survived by his wife, Antara Mukherjee, and a 12 years old son. Tragically, in a chilling Facebook post on December 19, Mani had expressed his fears, writing: “So much fire everywhere, so much violence. My birthplace has turned into a valley of death.”

​Journalist Assassinated in Jashore

On the same day, a 45 years old Hindu journalist and factory owner, Rana Pratap Bairagi, was assassinated in Manirampur, Jashore. Bairagi, the acting editor of BD Khobor, was called out of his ice factory by attackers on a motorcycle, shot three times in the head, and had his throat slit. Police recovered seven bullet casings from the scene.

​A Pattern of Systematic Violence

The recent killings are part of a grim series of attacks across the country. In the past three weeks, the community has mourned the loss of Dipu Chandra Das (lynched and set on fire in Mymensingh), pharmacy owner Khokon Das, and factory worker Bajendra Biswas.

​Adding to the atmosphere of fear, reports of sexual violence have surfaced from Jhenaidah, where a 40 years old Hindu widow was allegedly tortured and raped by local men. Two suspects have since been arrested following widespread public outcry.

​Diplomatic Fallout

The escalating "unremitting hostility" toward minorities under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has drawn sharp criticism from India. The Indian government stated it is "closely monitoring" the situation and has expressed deep concern over the safety and well-being of the minority community in Bangladesh.