International: In a disturbing incident that has sparked outrage, a prominent Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Bangladesh’s Dinajpur district.
The victim, 58-year-old Bhabesh Chandra Roy, was vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and a widely respected figure among the local Hindu population.
According to a report by The Daily Star, Roy was taken from his residence in Basudebpur village on the afternoon of April 17. His wife, Shantana, revealed that he had received a phone call around 4:30 PM, believed to be from the perpetrators confirming he was at home. Around 30 minutes later, four unidentified men on two motorcycles allegedly abducted him from the premises.
He was reportedly taken to Narabari village, where he was subjected to a brutal assault. Unconscious and severely injured, Roy was later brought back home by the assailants. His family rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Police have confirmed the incident and stated that preparations are underway to file a case. “We are working to identify and apprehend those involved,” said Abdus Sabur, Officer-in-Charge of Biral Police Station.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh and prompted sharp diplomatic reactions. India, reacting strongly to recent remarks made by Bangladeshi officials about violence in West Bengal, urged Dhaka to focus on its own internal issues.
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated. “This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India’s concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free,” he added.
The killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy has not only rattled the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh but also added a new layer of tension in the already delicate diplomatic exchanges between the two neighbours.
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