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Fear has been increasing in local Hindu groups as a consequence of attacks on the Hindu minority. Unverified blasphemy accusations are used to justify attacks on homes, businesses and individuals in Bangladesh. As an example, a 62-year-old business owner, Sushen Chandra Sarkar, was killed after being attacked by unknown assailants in his rice trading shop.
Photo source: Aa Dil, via Pexels, January 3rd, 2019.
19-02-2026 | Pauliina Majasaari |Asia Team Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
On February 9th, 2026, a 62-year-old Hindu businessman, Sushen Chandra Sarkar, was attacked and killed by unidentified individuals in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Sarkar was a small business owner in rice trading and resided in Southkanda village. Around 11 pm, Sarkar was attacked by perpetrators inside his shop. The assailants used sharp weapons to attack Sarkar, while fleeing the scene and pulling down the shutter, leaving the victim to die inside. Sarkar’s family had started to worry after he had not returned home from work, and therefore the son of Sarkar had tried to reach his father by phone on multiple occasions. When his son had not received an answer, he went to the shop and found his father lying in a pool of blood on the floor, gravely injured. Sarkar was transported to the hospital; however, he was declared dead despite efforts to save him.
The Assistant Superintendent of Police said investigations have been started into the incident, however, no arrests have been made yet, and uncertainty on the motive of the killing remains. According to Sujan Sarkar, the son of Sarkar, there were no disputes amongst the family with anyone, and additionally, claims were made on the robbery of several hundred thousand takas from Sarkar’s shop after the killing. Fast identification of the attackers and adequate punishments were also demanded by Sujan Sarkar. The brutal killing has shocked the members of the local community, as Sarkar was known around the area to be a rice trader.
Several actors, such as local Hindu groups, human rights advocates and international monitoring bodies, have raised an alarm and concern for the lack of security and protection of the Hindu minority, as well as the fear rising within local communities resulting from such incidents. Furthermore, claims have been made on the use of unverified blasphemy accusations by extremists to justify attacks on religious minorities’ homes and businesses.
