In yet another blow to Bangladesh’s fragile communal harmony, a 55-year-old Hindu businessman was bludgeoned to death with a spade in Gazipur, intensifying pre-election jitters over minority safety. Liton Chandra Ghosh, known locally as Kali, ran a popular sweet shop and was slain while defending his employee from a family mob.
Details emerged from Baranagar Road’s Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel. The spark was a petty dispute at 11 AM Saturday between 28-year-old patron Masum Mia and 17-year-old Ananta Das. As blows were exchanged, Masum’s relatives – father Mohammad Swapna Mia (55) and mother Majida Khatun (45) – arrived, escalating the melee.
Stepping in to safeguard his young worker, Ghosh was ambushed with a lethal spade strike to the head, dying immediately. Quick action by bystanders led to the assailants’ capture and handover to KaliGanj Police.
Station chief Mohammad Zakir Hossain verified: ‘All three are under arrest. Murder case registered, investigation ongoing for complete facts.’
This follows the previous day’s horror, where Hindu petrol attendant Ripon Saha was fatally run down for demanding payment. The rapid succession of Hindu killings underscores a perilous trend of targeted aggression against minorities. Local Hindus are seething, organizing protests and urging authorities for robust safeguards. With elections on the horizon, these events threaten to inflame broader unrest, compelling urgent calls for accountability and peace restoration.