A 23-year-old Hindu man, Chanchal Bhowmik, was burnt to death in Narsingdi, Bangladesh. His family alleges it was a premeditated attack, sparking outrage among locals and raising concerns over the safety of minority communities
In Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district, a 23‑year‑old
Hindu man has been killed in a fire that his family says was a planned attack, reigniting fears among the country’s minority communities. The victim, Chanchal Bhowmik, was found burned to death in a garage late on the night of January 23, with relatives and locals alleging the blaze was set deliberately to kill him while he was sleeping.
Police have taken evidence and CCTV footage from the scene as part of their investigation, but so far no arrests have been announced, authorities said.
According to eyewitnesses and local residents, Bhowmik, originally from Lakshmipur village in Cumilla district, was working and sleeping in the garage where he stayed as part of his job. Late on Friday night, unidentified individuals allegedly poured petrol on the shutter from outside and set it alight, causing flames to quickly spread through the building.
CCTV video related to the killing reportedly shows a person igniting the fire outside the garage before the blaze engulfed the structure. Residents alerted the fire service, but it took nearly an hour to bring the fire under control. Once the flames were extinguished, firefighters recovered Bhowmik’s charred body.
Family and community reaction
Family members and neighbours described Bhowmik as a “quiet, honest” young man with no known enemies, saying he had been the sole breadwinner for his household, which includes his ailing mother and siblings, according to CNN-News18.
His family has termed the incident a “premeditated murder” and urged authorities to quickly identify and arrest the perpetrators. Leaders within the local Hindu community also condemned the attack and called for stronger protection for minority groups across the country.
This killing follows a
series of violent incidents targeting members of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority over recent months and weeks.
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