Hindu Man Drowns Fleeing Mob in Bangladesh Amid Rising Violence Against Minorities

In Mahadebpur, Naogaon district of Bangladesh, a 25-year-old Hindu man, Mithun Sarkar, drowned after jumping into a canal while fleeing a mob that had accused him of theft. Police later recovered his body from the canal, marking another incident in a series of attacks against religious minorities in the country.

The incident comes amid heightened unrest in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ahead of the nation's first parliamentary elections since the 2024 uprising. Reports indicate that members of the Hindu minority community have increasingly been targeted, with the death of Mithun Sarkar being the latest in a series of attacks over the past few weeks.

Since early December, Bangladesh has witnessed multiple incidents of violence targeting Hindu citizens. On Monday, Sarat Chakroborty Mani, a grocery shop owner in Charsindur Bazar, Narsingdi district, was killed by unidentified assailants while at the market. Chakraborty, known as a quiet and respected businessman, had no known disputes. The incident caused tension in the local area, with residents expressing concern over safety in daily activities.

On the same day, 45-year-old Rana Pratap was shot at Kapalia Bazar in Monirampur upazila, Jessore, by unknown individuals. Pratap collapsed at the scene and later succumbed to the injuries.

Earlier, a Hindu woman in Jhenaidah district was reportedly tied to a tree and raped by two men, who also cut her hair and recorded the incident. The footage circulated widely on social media, drawing attention to safety concerns for minority communities.

Other incidents include Khokon Chandra Das, who ran a medicine and mobile banking business and was lynched and set on fire by a mob on January 3. Although he jumped into a pond to escape, he later died from the injuries.

In late December 2025, other attacks were reported:

Bajendra Biswas (40), shot dead in Mymensingh while working at a garment factory in Bhaluka. Biswas was also a member of the paramilitary force Ansar Bahini.

Amrit Mondal (29), lynched over alleged extortion in Rajbari on December 24.

Dipu Chandra Das (29), lynched and set on fire in Mymensingh on December 18, an incident widely covered internationally.

India has expressed concern over the increasing violence against minorities in Bangladesh. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that independent sources report over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities during the tenure of the interim government.

The drowning of Mithun Sarkar adds to ongoing fears among religious minorities as Bangladesh approaches its national elections.