Mumbai, January 5: A 45-year-old Hindu man was shot dead in broad daylight at a crowded market in Bangladesh’s Jashore district on Monday evening. The victim, identified as Rana Pratap Bairagi, was gunned down by unidentified assailants at Kopalia Bazar in Manirampur upazila. The brazen attack has heightened fears among the local minority community, marking the fifth killing of a Hindu individual in the country over the last three weeks.

The incident occurred around 5:45 PM on January 5, 2026. Eyewitnesses reported that Rana Pratap, a resident of Arua village in neighboring Keshabpur upazila, was present in the market when a group of gunmen ambushed him. According to local media reports, the attackers fired as many as seven shots, targeting his head. Hindu Man Attacked in Bangladesh: Khokon Chandra Das Set on Fire With Petrol by Miscreants in Shariatpur on New Year’s Eve.

Pratap succumbed to multiple bullet wounds on the spot before help could arrive. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the shooting, taking advantage of the ensuing chaos and panic.

Police Investigation and Response

Personnel from the Manirampur Police Station arrived shortly after the shooting to secure the area and recover the body. Officer-in-Charge Rajiullah Khan confirmed that the body would be sent to the morgue for a post-mortem examination.

"We are currently at the scene and have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the attackers," Khan stated. While the motive remains unclear, police are reviewing local eyewitness accounts and searching for the suspects who remain at large. India Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, Says ‘Unremitting Hostility Against Minorities Is a Matter of Grave Concern’.

Surge in Attacks on Minorities

The killing of Rana Pratap is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh amid ongoing social and political unrest.

  • January 3: Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das died at a Dhaka hospital. He had been attacked on New Year's Eve by a mob that stabbed him and set him on fire in Shariatpur.

  • December 31: Reports surfaced of another shooting in Mymensingh involving a victim identified as Bajendra Biswas.

  • December 18: Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment worker, was lynched in Mymensingh following false allegations of blasphemy.

Growing Concerns Over Law and Order

Minority rights groups, including the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, have expressed grave concern over what they describe as a "radical right-wing culture" targeting vulnerable communities. Spokesmen for these groups have noted that the use of petrol, fire, and public executions indicates a breakdown in the rule of law.

The interim government has faced increasing pressure from international observers and neighboring India to ensure the safety of religious minorities as the country prepares for upcoming elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 08:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).