Hindu Businessman Dies After Brutal Fire Attack in Bangladesh
Khokon Das succumbs after brutal mob attack.
Khokon Chandra Das, a 50-year-old Hindu businessman from Shariatpur district in Bangladesh, succumbed to severe burn injuries on January 3, 2026, at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. He had been battling for life since the brutal assault on December 31, 2025, when assailants stabbed him, poured petrol over his body, and set him on fire while he was returning home after closing his pharmacy and mobile banking business.
The attack occurred near Keurbhanga Bazar in Damudya upazila, where the mob intercepted his autorickshaw, inflicted multiple stab wounds, and ignited the flames primarily targeting his head and face. Das survived the initial inferno by jumping into a nearby pond, which extinguished the fire, before locals rushed him to a hospital. His condition deteriorated rapidly, necessitating transfer to the specialized burn institute in the capital.
Das's wife, Seema Das, expressed profound bewilderment and grief, stating that the family harbored no known disputes or enemies. She alleged that the attackers, whom her husband recognized—including two identified as Rabbi and Sohag—intentionally escalated the violence to fatal levels upon being identified. Police have launched an investigation and are pursuing arrests, but the family has demanded swift justice and capital punishment for the perpetrators.
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This incident marks the latest in a series of targeted assaults on members of Bangladesh's Hindu minority community amid ongoing unrest. Previous cases in December 2025 included the lynching and burning of Dipu Chandra Das over alleged blasphemy accusations and similar attacks on others, heightening concerns over minority safety under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
India has repeatedly expressed grave concern regarding persistent violence against minorities in Bangladesh, closely monitoring developments while the interim administration maintains its commitment to protection. International human rights organizations have also highlighted the escalating pattern, calling for accountability as the nation approaches general elections scheduled for February 2026.
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