‘Poured gasoline on head and face’: Wife of Hindu man set on fire in Bangladesh

Grim details have emerged after a Hindu businessman was attacked with sharp weapons and set on fire by unidentified assailants in Bangladesh’s Damudya area on Wednesday. The victim, identified as 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, is undergoing treatment in Dhaka after sustaining critical injuries.

Das, who runs a medicine and mobile banking business in Keurbhanga Bazar, was attacked late Wednesday evening while returning home from work in Kaneshwar Union, Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo reported.

According to his wife, Seema Das, the attackers stopped him near Keurbhanga Bazar and assaulted him after he recognised two of them. She alleged that petrol was poured on his head and face before he was set on fire.

“My husband closes his shop every night and returns home with the day’s earnings. He recognised two of the attackers, which is why they tried to kill him,” Seema Das was quoted as saying. She added that the family had no known disputes or enemies.

Police said two suspects, identified as Rabbi and Sohag, have been named in the case. Damudya police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Rabiul Haque said the victim was attacked near the Damudya–Shariatpur road while travelling in an autorickshaw.

Officials said Das was injured with sharp weapons before being set on fire. He reportedly jumped into a nearby pond to escape, after which the attackers fled when locals raised an alarm. Residents rescued him and took him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, from where he was referred to Dhaka due to the severity of his injuries.

The attack comes amid recent incidents of violence involving members of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. In recent weeks, a Hindu man was lynched in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy, while another was killed in Rajbari district over alleged extortion.

According to Bangladesh’s 2022 census, Hindus number about 13.13 million, accounting for roughly 7.95% of the country’s population.