Hindu Businessman Stabbed to Death in Bangladesh as Pre-Poll Violence Against Minorities Explodes.

Deadly Warning Before Polls: Hindu Businessman Stabbed as Minority Attacks Surge Across Bangladesh

A head of Bangladesh’s high-stakes parliamentary elections, a Hindu businessman was brutally stabbed to death inside his own shop in Mymensingh district, fuelling fresh fears over minority safety.  

The victim, Sushen Chandra Shekhar (62), a rice trader and owner of Messrs Bhai Bhai Enterprise, was attacked around 11 pm at Bogar Bazar in Trishal Upazila while he was working alone. Police say unidentified assailants stormed the shop, repeatedly stabbed him with sharp weapons, pulled down the shutter to conceal the crime, and fled, leaving his body locked inside.

 The killing, confirmed by Trishal police, has sent shockwaves through the area as investigators admit the motive remains unclear and the attackers are still at large.

The murder comes amid a chilling surge in violence against Hindu minorities as the country heads into elections. In recent weeks, cases have ranged from lynchings over false blasphemy allegations to brutal arson attacks, with rights groups warning of a pattern, not isolated incidents.

According to advocacy reports, at least 15 Hindus were killed in just 45 days between December 2025 and mid-January 2026. Minority groups say the Shekhar killing underscores a growing climate of fear, impunity, and communal tension, raising urgent questions about law and order, political accountability, and minority protection as Bangladesh approaches a decisive electoral moment.