3 JANUARY 2026, VOICE OF MINORITY-VOM:- SHARIATPUR, Bangladesh — A rural medical practitioner and small business owner in southern Bangladesh has died after being stabbed and set on fire in what police describe as a brutal criminal attack, authorities said on Saturday.
Khokon Chandra Das, 45, was attacked on Wednesday night in the Tiloi area of Damudya upazila while returning home, police officials confirmed. Assailants allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen, robbed him of cash and a mobile phone, and then poured a flammable substance over his body before setting him ablaze.
In an attempt to escape, Das jumped into nearby water, local residents said. He was rescued by villagers and taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for advanced treatment.
Doctors said around 30% of his body was burned. Despite intensive care, his condition deteriorated early Saturday morning, and he died at approximately 7:30 a.m. while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit.
Family members said Das had been conscious long enough to identify two of his attackers. Police later named three suspects, all local residents in their twenties, in connection with the assault.
A criminal case was filed late Thursday night by the victim’s father, Paresh Chandra Das, naming the three individuals as accused. Police said efforts are underway to arrest those involved.
The killing sparked anger among residents and traders in the Kewarbhangga market area, where Das operated a medicine shop and provided agent banking services. Protesters demanded swift arrests and strict punishment for the perpetrators.
“We have confirmed the death and are coordinating with Dhaka police for legal procedures, including the autopsy,” the officer-in-charge of Damudya Police Station said. “Investigations are ongoing.”
The incident has drawn renewed attention to violent crime and security concerns in rural parts of Bangladesh.
