Another Hindu Man Lynched in Bangladesh: Police Link Killing to Failed Extortion Bid
Another Hindu man was lynched in Bangladesh, with police claiming the killing followed a failed extortion attempt, according to reports
Another Hindu man has been beaten to death in Bangladesh, days after Dipu Chandra Das was lynched and his body was set ablaze, local media reported on Thursday.
Reports said 29-year-old Amrit Mondal alias Samrat was killed in Rajbari’s Pangsha sub-district – around three-and-a-half hours from the capital, Dhaka – around 11 pm.
Local residents told Bangladeshi media outlet The Daily Star that Samrat was the leader of a criminal gang, called the ‘Samrat Bahini’, which was involved in extortion, among other activities. Samrat had fled the country after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster last year and had returned to his village, Hosendanga in Kalimohor union, recently.
At approximately 11 pm on Wednesday, he and some other members of his gang allegedly went to the house of a villager, Shahidul Islam, to extort money. The villager’s family members began shouting that the gang members were robbers and other villagers managed to catch hold of Samrat, who was beaten to death, while most other gang members managed to flee.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Pangsha Circle) Debrata Sarkar said police rescued Samrat from the mob and he was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Sarkar said Samrat had at least two cases registered against him at the Pangsha Police Station, including one of murder.
One of Samrat’s associates, Mohammed Selim, was arrested with a pistol and another gun.
In a statement, the Bangladesh government claimed preliminary investigations have revealed that the killing of Samrat was not communal in any way.
“The government strongly condemns this killing. The government clearly states that it does not support any form of extrajudicial activity, mob violence, or violence of any kind. Legal action will be taken against everyone directly or indirectly involved in this incident. Law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation,” it said.
The 29-year-old’s killing comes at a time when the atmosphere in Bangladesh is already charged following the lynching of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das, which has raised questions about the safety of minorities in the country.
Das, 27, was accused of blasphemy by a co-worker in Mymensingh, around three hours from Dhaka, last Thursday and was lynched by a mob. His body was then hanged and set ablaze.
The brutal murder of the 27-year-old has drawn widespread condemnation and sparked protests, including in various places in India. Authorities have since said there is no evidence that Das had committed blasphemy and the killing could be a result of a work dispute.
At least 12 people have been arrested in connection with the lynching and Bangladesh’s Education Adviser CR Abrar visited Das’ family on Tuesday to express his condolences.
“On behalf of the government, Education Adviser Professor C R Abrar visited the bereaved family in Mymensingh on Tuesday to convey the government’s sympathy and assurance of support during this difficult time,” Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, said in a post on X.
Bangladesh has once again been shaken by reports of a lynching involving a member of the Hindu community, raising fresh concerns over public safety, communal tensions, and the state of law and order in parts of the country. According to police officials cited in local media reports, a Hindu man was lynched by a group of people, with investigators claiming that the attack may have stemmed from a failed extortion attempt rather than a communal motive. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed debate over mob violence and minority security in Bangladesh.
Authorities said the victim was allegedly targeted by a group demanding money. When the extortion attempt failed, the situation reportedly escalated into violence, culminating in the man being beaten to death. Police officials have stated that they are examining CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and phone records to establish the sequence of events and identify all those involved.
Law enforcement agencies have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions. “Initial findings suggest an extortion-related dispute, but all angles are being examined,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying. Several suspects have reportedly been detained for questioning, and further arrests are expected as the probe progresses.
The killing has once again highlighted the persistent problem of mob violence in Bangladesh, where incidents of lynching and vigilante attacks have been reported intermittently over the years. Rights groups and civil society organisations have long warned that mob justice undermines the rule of law and creates an atmosphere of fear, particularly for vulnerable communities.
While police have denied that the killing was motivated by religious hatred, the fact that the victim belonged to a minority community has intensified scrutiny. Minority rights advocates argue that even if the immediate trigger was extortion, systemic vulnerabilities make minority groups more susceptible to such crimes.
The incident has drawn reactions from political leaders and activists, with several calling for swift justice and accountability. Opposition figures have criticised the government over what they describe as a failure to prevent recurring incidents of mob violence. They argue that repeated assurances from authorities have not translated into meaningful deterrence on the ground.
Meanwhile, members of the Hindu community have expressed fear and anger, urging the government to ensure their safety. Community leaders have called for stronger policing, faster trials, and public awareness campaigns to curb mob mentality.
The Bangladeshi government has consistently maintained that it is committed to protecting all citizens regardless of religion. Officials have pointed to recent arrests and convictions in past lynching cases as evidence that the state does not tolerate mob violence.
In statements following the incident, authorities reiterated that those responsible would face the full force of the law. “No one is above the law. We will ensure justice for the victim,” a government spokesperson said.
This latest case comes amid reports of similar violent incidents in recent months, leading analysts to question whether existing legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms are sufficient. Experts argue that while laws against murder and assault already exist, delayed justice and weak deterrence often embolden perpetrators.
Social media misinformation has also been flagged as a contributing factor in several past lynching cases, with rumours and false accusations quickly spiralling into violence. Analysts warn that without stricter action against rumour-mongering and mob incitement, such tragedies could continue.
As investigations continue, the case is being closely watched both within Bangladesh and internationally. Human rights organisations have urged authorities to conduct a transparent probe and ensure that accountability is not limited to low-level perpetrators but extends to anyone who may have incited or enabled the violence.
For many, the incident is a grim reminder of the urgent need to address mob violence at its roots—through stronger law enforcement, community engagement, and clear political messaging against vigilantism.
As Bangladesh grapples with this latest tragedy, the demand for justice remains clear: perpetrators must be held accountable, and concrete steps must be taken to ensure that such acts do not become a recurring feature of public life.
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