Amid Unrest In Bangladesh, Another Hindu Businessman Killed

New Delhi: Bangladesh was rocked by yet another incident of violence against minorities after a 40-year-old Moni Chakraborty, a Hindu man who is a owner of a grocery shop, has been murdered after unidentified attackers struck him with a sharp weapon in Bangladesh's Narsingdi city, according to a local media report.

The incident took place on Monday night, hours after Rana Pratap Bairagi (38), a Hindu businessman, who was also the acting editor of a newspaper, was fatally shot in the head by unidentified men in Jessore district of Bangladesh.

Chakraborty was attacked and killed at Charsindhur Bazar in Palash Upazila around 11 pm on Monday, bdnews24 news portal reported. Palash Police Station chief (OC) Shahed Al Mamun said Moni was the son of Madan Thakur of Sadharchar Union in Shibpur Upazila.

Moni had been running a grocery shop at Charsindhur Bazar for a long time. He is the third Hindu businessman to be killed in recent weeks. Police and local residents said Moni was returning home after closing his shop on Monday night when unidentified attackers struck him with a sharp, locally-made weapon.

He collapsed on the spot, the report added. Locals rushed him to the Palash Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Police reached the scene immediately after receiving the information and have launched an investigation to identify and arrest those responsible, Police OC Shahed said.

The body was sent to the Narsingdi Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. The killing marks the latest in a spate of violent incidents against the Hindu community members.

Rana Pratap Bairagi Killed

Bairagi, is a resident of Arua village in Keshabpur upazila of Jessore in Khulna Division.

"We have received information that one Rana Pratap Bairagi was shot dead at the Keshabpur area of Jessore," Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee President Bashudeb Dhar said.

Bairagi, who owned an ice-making factory in Kopaliya Bazar in Monirampur, was also the acting editor of a newspaper called 'Dainik BD Khabar' published from Narail, according to the daily.

The incident occurred around 5:45 PM at Kopaliya Bazaar on Monday, bdnews24 news portal quoted Additional Police Superintendent Abul Basar as saying.

Citing locals and the police, Prothom Alo said that three miscreants on a motorcycle called him from the ice factory and took him to the alley in front of Kapalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre on the west side of Kopaliya Bazar and then shot him in the head from close range before fleeing the scene. The victim died on the spot.

"Bairagi was shot three times in the head and his throat was slit," Monirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Rajiullah Khan was quoted as saying by the daily.

Police have initiated an investigation to nab the assailants and ascertain the reason behind the murder.

Police said Bairagi "appeared to be a victim of an internal feud" of the banned Purbo Banglar Communist Party, describing him as an "active member" of the group.

(With PTI Inputs)

Also read:

1. BJP Leader Sangeet Som Receives 'Death Threats' After Opposing Bangladeshi Player In IPL Team
2. Bangladesh Court Sets January 21 For Charge Framing In Sedition Case Against Hasina