A routine demand for petrol payment spiraled into cold-blooded murder in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district, claiming the life of Hindu worker Ripon Saha and fueling fears of targeted communal strife. The 30-year-old was crushed by a car linked to BNP leadership, marking yet another blow to minorities.
Details emerged from the Karim Filling Station near Golonda Mor. On Friday, a black Land Cruiser took 5,000 taka fuel without settling the bill. Saha confronted the driver, who responded by running him over and escaping. Death was instantaneous.
Rajbari Sadar Police Chief Khondkar Jiyaur Rahman confirmed the deliberate nature of the act. The vehicle was impounded, owner Abul Hashem—ex-BNP treasurer—arrested at home, and driver Kamal Hossain picked up from his village. ‘We’re registering it as homicide after refusing payment,’ Rahman told reporters.
Witness accounts underscore the savagery: Saha blocked the car, only to be deliberately struck. This is the tenth Hindu death in such violence this month under the Yunus-led interim setup, including recent cases in Feni and Jagatpur where Samir Das was found slain.
India’s concerns peaked on January 9, monitoring the unrest and calling for crackdowns. With human rights organizations worldwide protesting, Bangladesh faces mounting pressure to safeguard its Hindu population amid a wave of atrocities that threatens regional harmony.