A tragic killing was reported in Bangladesh on Monday night as a grocery shop owner, identified as 40-year-old Sarat Chakraborty Mani, was attacked with sharp weapons in Narsingdi, near Dhaka. This incident marks the second reported killing of a Hindu individual within 24 hours, according to media reports.
Local residents said Sarat was working at his store in Charsindur Bazaar in the Palash Upazila area when unidentified attackers suddenly assaulted him. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on the way.
Sarat is survived by his wife, Antara Mukherjee, and their 12-year-old son, Abhik. He had previously worked in South Korea before returning to Bangladesh and later built a home in the Brahmandi area of Narsingdi, where his family now lives.
Family members and neighbours described Sarat as calm, responsible, and someone who avoided conflict. One neighbour suggested that the attack may have been motivated by his identity, while others pointed to growing fears over recent unrest. In a December 19 Facebook post, Sarat had expressed anxiety about the situation in the country.
Social activist Bappaditya Basu condemned the killing, drawing attention to the earlier murder of journalist Rana Pratap Bairagi in Jessore the same day. Basu alleged rising targeted violence and claimed extremist groups had recently demanded money from Sarat, threatening him if he reported the matter to police.
Basu further alleged that the same group was responsible for Sarat’s death. However, no official police statement or confirmation from law-enforcement authorities has been released so far, and investigations are believed to be ongoing.