Hindu journalist shot dead as violence against minorities continue in Bangladesh

Representational image. File pic

Another Hindu businessman, who was also the acting editor of a newspaper, was fatally shot in the head in Bangladesh, reported the PTI.

As reported by local media reports, the man was shot dead by unidentified men on Monday in the Jessore district of Bangladesh.

As per PTI, the deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Rana Pratap Bairagi, a resident of Arua village in Keshabpur upazila of Jessore in Khulna Division.

Bairagi, who owned an ice-making factory in Kopaliya Bazar in Monirampur, was also the acting editor of a newspaper called 'Dainik BD Khabar' published from Narail, as per PTI.

Additional Police Superintendent Abul Basar, while speaking to the media about the incident, said that the incident in Bangladesh occurred around 5:45 pm at Kapalia Bazaar on Monday.

Citing locals and the police, Prothom also said that three miscreants on a motorcycle called him from the ice factory and took him to the alley in front of Kapalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre on the west side of Kapalia Bazar.

The miscreants then shot him in the head from close range and fled. Media reports further emphasised that the deceased died on the spot, reported PTI.

Monirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge, while speaking to the Bangladeshi media, said, "Bairagi was shot three times in the head, and his throat was slit," reported PTI.

Khan also said that the reason for his murder is not known. However, an investigation has been launched to find out who or what committed the murder.

Police said that there are four cases registered against the deceased in two police stations. However, details of these cases were not known. The shooting marks the latest in a spate of violent incidents against the Hindu community members.

Series of incidents against minorities in Bangladesh

Earlier, on January 3, Khokon Chandra Das (50) died after he was brutally attacked, hacked and set on fire. Whereas on December 24, another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was lynched over alleged extortion in Rajbari town's Pangsha upazila.

The heated scenario gathered international attention on December 18, when Dipu Chandra Das (25) was lynched by a mob and his body was set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city.

In another incident unidentified men set fire to Qatar expatriate workers Shukh Shil and Anil Shil's home in the Raojan area on the outskirts of Chattogram on December 23, but the residents managed to come out of the building unharmed, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)