A Hindu man in Bangladesh died after jumping into a water body while trying to escape a mob that was allegedly chasing him over accusations of theft. The incident occurred in Naogaon district, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Mithun Sarkar. According to local police, a group of people pursued him following allegations of theft. In an attempt to flee, he jumped into nearby water, where he later died. Police recovered the body with assistance from fire service personnel and have initiated a post-mortem examination. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently underway.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, which has witnessed heightened unrest since the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December last year.
The first reported case in this wave of violence was recorded on December 18, when a mob, over unverified allegations of blasphemy, lynched a Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das. His body was reportedly tied to a tree and set on fire, with later findings indicating that the allegations were false.
More recently, a 40-year-old Hindu grocery shop owner, Moni Chakraborty, was killed in Narsingdi district. He was attacked with a sharp, locally made weapon while returning home after closing his shop at Charsindhur Bazar in Palash Upazila. He collapsed at the scene and later died. Moni was the third Hindu businessman to be killed in recent weeks.
On the same day, another Hindu businessman and acting newspaper editor, Rana Pratap Bairagi, was shot dead in Jessore district. The 38-year-old was attacked at Kapalia Bazaar in Keshabpur upazila during the evening hours by unidentified assailants.
Earlier this month, on January 3, Khokon Chandra Das died after being brutally assaulted, hacked and set on fire. On December 24, another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was allegedly lynched in Rajbari district&rsquo;s Pangsha upazila following accusations related to extortion.
The string of incidents has raised serious concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, with repeated calls for stronger law enforcement action and protection of vulnerable communities.

Death in Naogaon adds to rising attacks on Hindus amid ongoing unrest

Hindu Man Dies Fleeing Mob in Bangladesh

Death in Naogaon adds to rising attacks on Hindus amid ongoing unrest

January 7, 2026 | 17:28 IST