Family of Hindu journalist attacked by Muslim mob amid ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Bangladesh

Case Summary
On the night of January 3, extremists attacked the family of Hindu journalist Saugata Bose in Dumain village, Faridpur district, Bangladesh. Saugata, a correspondent for the Bengali daily Ajker Patrika, was not present during the attack. At around 8:30 pm, the attackers laid siege to the journalist's house and injured his 65-year-old father, Shyamlendu Bose, his 60-year-old mother, Kakuli Bose, and a minor neighbour. The incident began when the family noticed an intruder inside their home while watching television. As they tried to chase the individual, Shyamlendu was attacked with a sharp weapon, causing a severe head injury. Kakuli and the minor were also injured. Saugata’s aunt, Shukla Bose, stated that she received a video call from the family during the attack. The victims were covered in blood and pleaded for help. Neighbours were alerted and rescued them, taking them to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Doctors reported that Shyamlendu was in critical condition due to significant blood loss and a skull fracture. Speaking to the media, Saugata Bose expressed uncertainty about the attackers' identities or motives, clarifying that there were no known disputes or theft involved. The police, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Shailen Chakma, began investigating the incident. No arrests were reported at the time of the attack.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attacked for Hindu identity. In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. The removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, escalated the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the predominantly Islamic nation, intensifying what can be described as a silent genocide. Since her ouster, Islamists have carried out unchecked atrocities against Hindus, including physical violence, the destruction of temples and religious symbols, and the systematic displacement of Hindus from their ancestral lands. Over 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses have been recorded following Sheikh Hasina's removal as Prime Minister. Many Hindus have been brutally murdered or injured in these assaults. Following a pattern of attacks on Hindu individuals and religious institutions, ISKCON members have increasingly become targets of aggression in the Muslim-majority nation. These incidents are marked by physical assaults, intimidation, and systemic neglect by authorities, leaving victims without recourse to justice. Amid this, a Hindu journalist's family was brutally assaulted by a group of Muslims in Bangladesh's Faridpur district. It is important to emphasise that the attack on the family of the Hindu man was entirely unprovoked, with his religious identity being the sole trigger for the violence. Moreover, such attacks can be perceived as a larger attack on the entire Hindu community, as the purpose is clearly to send a broader message of hostility towards the community. It is a tactic to intimidate the community; instil fear and disrupt the cohesion and morale of the community. Such attacks are a form of symbolic aggression against the Hindu community that stems from an innate hatred for Hinduism. Given that the fundamental motivation behind these actions is contempt for Hindus and their religion, this instance has been added to the tracker under the following category.
Victim Details
Total Victim
3
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 3
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 3
- Unknown 0
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 0
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 3

Case Status
Complaint registered

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
male