Hindu Journalist and Shop Owner Killed on the Same Day in Bangladesh

News January 7, 2026

Victims of the violence (Photocrd: ABN)

A Hindu journalist and a business owner were killed on the same day, January 5, in Bangladesh, according to local reports.

The journalist was identified as 38-year-old Ranapratap Bairagi, who was serving as the acting editor of the Dainik BD Khobor newspaper published in Narail.

Sources said Bairagi was killed while working at his ice factory in Kapalia Bazar, Monirampur. According to officials from the Monirampur Police Station, three unidentified gunmen arrived on a motorcycle, forced him outside the factory, shot him at close range, and then brutally slit his throat.

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), an international press freedom organization, strongly condemned the killing and called for the perpetrators to be identified and prosecuted under the law.

In a separate incident the same night, at around 10 p.m. on January 5, 40-year-old Hindu grocery shop owner Sarat Mani was also killed, according to Bangladeshi news outlets.

He was attacked with sharp weapons in Narsingdi District. Local residents transported him to the nearest hospital, but he died from severe injuries on the way, reports stated.

He is survived by his wife and 12-year-old son, Abhik Chakraborty.

The motives behind the killings are not yet known. However, local sources report that Hindu citizens — who make up only about 7.59 percent of Bangladesh’s population, totaling just over 13 million people — as well as indigenous minority groups, frequently face violent attacks from extremist Bengali elements.

On January 3, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das also died after being hacked and burned.

Earlier, on December 24, 2025, Hindu man, Amrit Mondal was abducted, robbed, and brutally murdered in Pangsha Township, Rajbari District.

On December 18, 2025, in Mymensingh, Dipu Chandra Dass — the son of Rabi Chandra Das — was stripped naked and burned to death in front of a crowd after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Source@arakanbaynews