A Hindu Man Crushed to Death by a Vehicle

Photo source: Rhys Abel, via Pexels, February 27th, 2024.

19-01-2026 | Pauliina Majasaari | Asia Team Researcher,  Global Human Rights Defence.

On January 16th, 2026, a 30-year-old Hindu man, Ripon Saha, was crushed to death by a fleeing vehicle in Rajbari district, Bangladesh. Saha was working at a fuel station, Karim Filling Station, at the time of the incident. According to police and eyewitnesses, a black SUV had arrived at the fuel station around 4:30 am and taken fuel for about 5,000 takas. The customer had not paid for the fuel and attempted to flee, and while Saha tried to block the vehicle, the driver ran him over and fled the scene. Saha was killed on the spot. This incident raises grave concern for the neglect of the most pivotal corner stones of human rights, the right to life. 

The police managed to seize the vehicle and arrest its owner, Abul Hashem, and the driver, Kamal Hossain. According to the police, Hashem was the former treasurer of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a former president of the district Jubo Dal. The police will file a murder case about the occurred incident.  

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) has raised concern over the communal violence occurring in Bangladesh. A BHBCUC statement made earlier this month, expresses worry of the communal violence increasing as the date of the general elections approach, to be held on February 12th, 2026. According to BHBCUC, the aim of the violence is to prevent and intimidate minorities from casting votes for their candidates of choice. Such conduct can interfere with the right to vote that guarantees the free expression of their will as voters as well as the right to self-determination, where every individual has the right to freely determine their political status.