28 October, 2026 – Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP) has demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the murder of barber Rabindra Rishi in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, and exemplary punishment for those responsible. The organisation also condemned attacks, vandalism, and looting at Hindu homes in Pirganj, Rangpur, reportedly triggered by allegations of religious defamation.
The demands were raised at a press conference organised by the Bangladesh Sanatan Party outside the National Press Club in Dhaka at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Central leaders and representatives of the organisation attended the event.
The press conference was chaired by BSP President Anup Kumar Dutta, while the organisation’s founding general secretary, Advocate Sumon Kumar Roy, read out the written statement.
Among those present were religious leader Pranabananda Maharaj, Santosh Chandra Das, Tony Mallick, Subir Kanti Dhar, Manik Chandra Saha, Biswajit Sarkar, Prasanjit Bakshi, Ashutosh Ghosh, Sujit Das, Sujan Biswas, and other organisational representatives.
In the written statement, Advocate Sumon Kumar Roy expressed deep concern over Rabindra Rishi’s murder in Bhaluka and the reported attacks, vandalism, and looting targeting Hindu households in Pirganj following allegations of religious defamation.
Roy stated that any allegation of offending religious sentiments must be investigated and adjudicated through the country’s established legal and judicial processes. He stressed that attacks on homes, vandalism, looting, and acts of mob violence cannot be justified by such allegations.
According to the organisation’s statement, a case had been filed over attacks, vandalism, and looting at three houses in Pirganj, and police had reported arrests in connection with the incident. The leaders also referred to media reports of an arrest in connection with Rabindra Rishi’s murder in Bhaluka.
The organisation emphasised that arrests alone were insufficient and called for the underlying circumstances of both incidents to be thoroughly investigated, those responsible to be brought to justice, and exemplary punishment to be imposed through due legal process.
Regarding Rabindra Rishi’s murder, the organisation called for an impartial investigation to establish whether the killing stemmed from a previous dispute, personal enmity, a premeditated attack, or another motive. It also demanded that the findings of the investigation be made public.
Nine-point charter of demands
The Bangladesh Sanatan Party presented a nine-point set of demands at the press conference. These included:
- A swift and impartial investigation into Rabindra Rishi’s murder and exemplary punishment for those found responsible.
- Bringing everyone directly or indirectly involved in the attacks and looting in Pirganj to justice, regardless of political or social affiliation.
- Ensuring the safety of affected families and providing appropriate remedies for their losses.
- Ensuring lawful investigations and judicial proceedings in cases involving allegations of religious defamation.
- Preventing attacks against individuals or communities on the basis of religious identity.
- Improving law and order and ensuring equal protection for all citizens.
- Investigating reported incidents of idol vandalism before Durga Puja and identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
- Strengthening preventive security measures at religious sites and during religious festivals.
- Protecting the lives, property, religious freedom, and constitutional rights of religious minorities.
The organisation also urged local administrations and law enforcement agencies to take more effective preventive measures to protect places of worship, religious idols, religious ceremonies, and the property of religious minority communities.
Roy reiterated that every citizen has the right to live in safety, regardless of religion, ethnicity, occupation, or identity. He said ensuring the rule of law, justice, religious freedom, and equal rights for all citizens is a fundamental responsibility of the state.
The Bangladesh Sanatan Party also expressed gratitude to the prime minister, home minister, government, administration, law enforcement agencies, opposition parties, and various political and social organisations for their cooperation in facilitating the peaceful observance of the recently concluded Durga Puja celebrations.
The organisation thanked journalists for reporting incidents from different parts of the country during the festival and raising public awareness of law-and-order concerns.
Its leaders called on the media to continue providing objective coverage of Rabindra Rishi’s murder, the attacks and looting in Pirganj, and reported idol vandalism in the period leading up to Durga Puja.
Concluding the press conference, the organisation stressed that it sought neither communal conflict nor retaliation, but peace, harmony, justice, and the rule of law.
“We do not want revenge; we want justice. We do not want conflict; we want the rule of law. We do not seek special privileges; we want equal security and rights for all citizens,” the organisation stated.
The press conference ended with an appeal to the government and relevant authorities to take effective measures to protect religious freedom, public safety, and the constitutional rights of every citizen.
: The Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP) has demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the murder of barber Rabindra Rishi in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, and exemplary punishment for those responsible. The organisation also condemned attacks, vandalism, and looting at Hindu homes in Pirganj, Rangpur, reportedly triggered by allegations of religious defamation.
The demands were raised at a press conference organised by the Bangladesh Sanatan Party outside the National Press Club in Dhaka at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Central leaders and representatives of the organisation attended the event.
The press conference was chaired by BSP President Anup Kumar Dutta, while the organisation’s founding general secretary, Advocate Sumon Kumar Roy, read out the written statement.
Among those present were religious leader Pranabananda Maharaj, Santosh Chandra Das, Tony Mallick, Subir Kanti Dhar, Manik Chandra Saha, Biswajit Sarkar, Prasanjit Bakshi, Ashutosh Ghosh, Sujit Das, Sujan Biswas, and other organisational representatives.
In the written statement, Advocate Sumon Kumar Roy expressed deep concern over Rabindra Rishi’s murder in Bhaluka and the reported attacks, vandalism, and looting targeting Hindu households in Pirganj following allegations of religious defamation.
Roy stated that any allegation of offending religious sentiments must be investigated and adjudicated through the country’s established legal and judicial processes. He stressed that attacks on homes, vandalism, looting, and acts of mob violence cannot be justified by such allegations.
According to the organisation’s statement, a case had been filed over attacks, vandalism, and looting at three houses in Pirganj, and police had reported arrests in connection with the incident. The leaders also referred to media reports of an arrest in connection with Rabindra Rishi’s murder in Bhaluka.
The organisation emphasised that arrests alone were insufficient and called for the underlying circumstances of both incidents to be thoroughly investigated, those responsible to be brought to justice, and exemplary punishment to be imposed through due legal process.
Regarding Rabindra Rishi’s murder, the organisation called for an impartial investigation to establish whether the killing stemmed from a previous dispute, personal enmity, a premeditated attack, or another motive. It also demanded that the findings of the investigation be made public.
Nine-point charter of demands
The Bangladesh Sanatan Party presented a nine-point set of demands at the press conference. These included:
- A swift and impartial investigation into Rabindra Rishi’s murder and exemplary punishment for those found responsible.
- Bringing everyone directly or indirectly involved in the attacks and looting in Pirganj to justice, regardless of political or social affiliation.
- Ensuring the safety of affected families and providing appropriate remedies for their losses.
- Ensuring lawful investigations and judicial proceedings in cases involving allegations of religious defamation.
- Preventing attacks against individuals or communities on the basis of religious identity.
- Improving law and order and ensuring equal protection for all citizens.
- Investigating reported incidents of idol vandalism before Durga Puja and identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
- Strengthening preventive security measures at religious sites and during religious festivals.
- Protecting the lives, property, religious freedom, and constitutional rights of religious minorities.
The organisation also urged local administrations and law enforcement agencies to take more effective preventive measures to protect places of worship, religious idols, religious ceremonies, and the property of religious minority communities.
Roy reiterated that every citizen has the right to live in safety, regardless of religion, ethnicity, occupation, or identity. He said ensuring the rule of law, justice, religious freedom, and equal rights for all citizens is a fundamental responsibility of the state.
The Bangladesh Sanatan Party also expressed gratitude to the prime minister, home minister, government, administration, law enforcement agencies, opposition parties, and various political and social organisations for their cooperation in facilitating the peaceful observance of the recently concluded Durga Puja celebrations.
The organisation thanked journalists for reporting incidents from different parts of the country during the festival and raising public awareness of law-and-order concerns.
Its leaders called on the media to continue providing objective coverage of Rabindra Rishi’s murder, the attacks and looting in Pirganj, and reported idol vandalism in the period leading up to Durga Puja.
Concluding the press conference, the organisation stressed that it sought neither communal conflict nor retaliation, but peace, harmony, justice, and the rule of law.
“We do not want revenge; we want justice. We do not want conflict; we want the rule of law. We do not seek special privileges; we want equal security and rights for all citizens,” the organisation stated.
The press conference ended with an appeal to the government and relevant authorities to take effective measures to protect religious freedom, public safety, and the constitutional rights of every citizen.
