A Hindu shop owner was beaten to death in Bangladesh’s Gazipur district after he tried to protect a teenage employee from an alleged assault, according to local media reports citing police officials. The incident has triggered strong reactions in the area and renewed concerns over the safety of Hindu minorities in the country.
The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Liton Chandra Ghosh, also known as Kali, who owned Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel on Baranagar Road. According to Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star, Ghosh was present at his shop on Saturday morning when a dispute suddenly escalated into violence.
Dispute Escalates Into Fatal Assault
As per police officials and eyewitness accounts, the incident began around 11 am when Masum Mia, 28, entered the sweetshop and got into a heated argument over a minor issue with Ananta Das, a 17-year-old employee. What initially started as a verbal exchange soon turned physical.
Shortly after, Masum Mia’s parents — Mohammad Swapan Mia, 55, and Majeda Khatun, 45 — arrived at the spot and allegedly joined the confrontation. The situation reportedly worsened as all three began attacking people present inside the shop.
Liton Ghosh stepped in to defend the teenage employee and attempted to de-escalate the clash. However, he too became a target during the violence. According to reports, Ghosh was hit on the head with a shovel, suffered critical injuries, and died at the scene.
Arrests Made as Community Anger Grows
Following the attack, local residents rushed to the shop, detained Masum Mia along with his parents, and handed them over to the police. Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Zakir Hossain confirmed the incident to The Daily Star and said that the three suspects have been taken into custody. He added that legal proceedings were underway and that further investigation was being carried out to determine all aspects of the case.
The killing has sparked widespread anger among local residents, particularly as it occurred just a day after another Hindu man was killed elsewhere in Bangladesh. On Friday, Ripon Saha, an employee at a fuel station, was allegedly run over and crushed to death by a car while trying to stop a vehicle from leaving without paying for fuel. The car reportedly fled the scene after the incident.
Both cases have intensified fears within the Hindu community, with many viewing the latest killing as part of a broader pattern of violence and targeted attacks against religious minorities in the country.