Hindu man burnt to death in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi | World News

Another Hindu man was burnt to death in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi on Friday night, drawing attention to the safety of minorities as the South Asian country heads for polls next month.
Chanchal Bhowmik, a 25-year-old worker originally from Lakshmipur village in Cumilla, died in a fire when he was sleeping inside a garage. Fire service arrived at the scene, but the time the flames were doused, Bhowmik’s body was charred to death, Prothom Alo reported.
The police are yet to confirm whether the incident was a murder or an accident.
Authorities initially believed that the fire may have been caused a short circuit, but Narsingdi Model Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Ishaq Mia, who collected Bhowmik’s remains, said that CCTV revealed an unknown man collecting paper and cloth covered in automobile lubricants from the vicinity before setting it on fire in front of the garage.
A police official said that efforts are underway to identify the person seen in the footage and further investigation will be carried. After the autopsy, the police handed over his body to his relatives yesterday evening.
Violence against minorities in Bangladesh
Bhowmik’s death marks one of several since the brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bhaluka, Mymensingh drict, during a wave of violence against minorities in December triggered the death of a prominent student activ Hadi Osman, who had taken part in the movement to oust the then Prime Miner, Sheikh Hasina.
Das’ death lead to widespread protests and counter protests in India and Bangladesh, which culminated in a diplomatic rift between the two countries and the suspension of visa services in December.Story continues below this ad
Last month, the Indian Minry of External Affairs said it took note of over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities in the neighbouring country during the tenure of the interim government led Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, and called it a “matter of grave concern.”