Bangladesh authorities have arrested three men in connection with the brutal killing of Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das, who was allegedly beaten, stabbed and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur district on New Year’s Eve. Das succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning while undergoing treatment in Dhaka, police and hospital officials confirmed.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said the accused — Sohag Khan (27), Rabbi Molla (21) and Palash Sardar (25) — were arrested from Kishoreganj district during a special operation. Officials said the suspects were identified through initial investigations, following which multiple teams were formed to track them down.
According to RAB officials, the arrested men have prior criminal records, including involvement in drug-related cases and other offences. Police said investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack and to identify whether more people were involved.
Victim dies after three days of treatment
Das died at around 7:20 am on Saturday at the National Burn Institute in Dhaka, where he had been admitted in critical condition. Doctors said nearly 30 per cent of his body had suffered burn injuries, along with deep stab wounds and severe damage to his face and respiratory tract. Authorities said legal formalities were underway to hand over the body to his family for last rites in his native village.
Attack after shop closed
The attack took place on December 31 at around 9:30 pm near Keurbhanga Bazar in Koneshwar Union under Damudya Upazila. As per local daily Prothom Alo, Das was returning home after closing his pharmacy when a group of assailants intercepted him, assaulted him with sharp weapons, doused him with petrol and set him on fire.
In an attempt to escape, Das jumped into a nearby pond. Hearing his cries for help, local residents rushed to the spot, forcing the attackers to flee. He was first taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital and later referred to Dhaka as his condition worsened.
Doctors said Das had sustained multiple injuries, including a serious wound to the abdomen, along with burns on his face, hands and the back of his head.
Family demands justice
Das’s family has demanded a thorough probe and strict punishment for all those responsible. His wife, Seema Das, said her husband had no disputes with anyone. “He was about to enter the house when a mob attacked him with petrol and set him on fire. He lived a peaceful life. We still don’t know why this happened,” she said.
The killing has once again brought focus on concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. It is the fourth such incident reported in recent weeks. Earlier, Dipu Chandra Das, a garment worker in Mymensingh, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy, while another Hindu youth, Amrit Mondal, was lynched in Rajbari following an extortion-related allegation. In another incident, Bajendra Biswas, a Hindu man, was shot dead while on security duty at a garment factory in Mymensingh.