A Hindu man was beaten to death in Bangladesh as attacks on religious minorities rise ahead of elections. Rights groups warn of growing mob violence and state failure.
A Hindu man was beaten to death in Bangladesh on Thursday in what human rights groups describe as part of a growing pattern of violence against religious minorities.
The victim, Joy Mahapatro, died from his injuries while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
The killing comes just days after another Hindu man, 25-year-old Mithun Sarkar, died while trying to escape a mob that was chasing him on suspicion of theft. Sarkar jumped into a canal and later drowned. His body was recovered by police on Tuesday in Sylhet district.
Rights groups say attacks on minorities have increased sharply in recent weeks as Bangladesh prepares for its first parliamentary elections since the 2024 uprising that removed the Sheikh Hasina government. Activists warn that these incidents point to a failure by the state to protect vulnerable communities.
In a separate case, police on Thursday arrested the main suspect in the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker killed in December. The suspect, Yasin Arafat, a former teacher, is accused of leading a mob attack over allegations of blasphemy.
Dipu was reportedly forced to resign from his job in Mymensingh district before being handed over to a mob. He was beaten to death, his body hung from a tree, and then set on fire. Investigators later found that several of his coworkers were involved in the attack.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, while rights groups continue to call for stronger action to prevent mob violence and protect minority communities.
