Sipu Jha
DHAKA: Amid sporadic attacks on minorities, a businessman has become the latest victim of a brutal assault in Damudya in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district. Khokon Chandra Das (50) was seriously injured after being attacked, hacked and set on fire by miscreants on Wednesday night. He has since been transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment. The incident occurred around 9.30pm near Keurbhanga Bazaar in Koneshwar Union of Damudya Upazila. Last month in Mymensingh, Dipu Chandra Das, a poor labourer, was set afire and his body hanged from a tree by a mob for alleged blasphemy, and Bajendra Biswas, a factory security guard, shot dead by his colleague, while eight Hindu houses were set ablaze after locking doors by arsonists in different parts of the country.Set afire, Hindu man in B’desh jumped into pond to save life Khokon has a medicine shop and a mobile banking business at Keurbhanga Bazar. On Wednesday night, he was returning home in an autorickshaw after closing his shop. Miscreants reportedly stopped the vehicle on the Damudya-Shariatpur road near the bazaar and assaulted him, officials said. The attackers beat him, and at one stage, hacked him with sharp weapons. They then poured petrol and set him on fire. In a bid to save himself, Khokon jumped into a nearby pond. Hearing screams from people in the area, the attackers fled the scene, eyewitnesses said. Local rushed Khokon to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital. From there, he was referred to Dhaka as his condition worsened. Doctors at Shariatpur hospital said the victim sustained multiple injuries across his body. Khokon’s wife, Seema Das, told reporters her husband recognised two of the of the attackers, which may be why they tried to kill him. “We have no disputes with anyone. We do not understand why he was targeted.” Police said two suspects, identified as locals Rabbi and Sohag, have been named, adding efforts are underway to arrest them and to identify any others involved in the incident.
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