Escalating Violence Against Hindus: A Crisis in Bangladesh

A Hindu man's tragic death at a Bangladesh petrol station highlights a disturbing rise in violence against the Hindu minority. Ripon Saha was killed while trying to stop a driver from fleeing without paying for fuel. This incident is part of a broader pattern of escalating communal violence as elections approach.

A Hindu man was killed in Bangladesh while attempting to prevent a vehicle from leaving a petrol station without paying, according to police. The incident in the Rajbari district adds to a series of violent attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Victim Ripon Saha, a 30-year-old fuel station worker, was fatally run over by a car after blocking its path. The vehicle, a black SUV, fled the scene after taking fuel worth Tk 5,000 without payment. Police later seized the vehicle and arrested its owner, Abul Hashem, and driver Kamal Hossain.

This case reflects a worrying trend of communal violence in Bangladesh, exacerbated as the country prepares for upcoming parliamentary elections. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reports increasing incidents of targeted attacks on religious minorities, aimed at disrupting their electoral participation.

(With inputs from agencies.)