- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Fresh allegations of targeted violence against minorities have surfaced in Bangladesh following the killing of a Hindu grocery trader in Narsingdi district, with a family friend claiming the victim was threatened and extorted in the name of “Jizya” before his murder. Speaking to CNN-News18, Bappaditya Basu, Assistant Organising Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and a close family friend, alleged that Sarat Chakraborty Mani was asked to pay Jizya tax and warned of severe consequences if he approached the police.
“In Bangladesh, the situation for Hindus is extremely difficult. What is happening here is ethnic cleansing of Hindus, and this is happening with government backing,” Basu claimed. He further alleged that Mani was threatened with the abduction of his wife if he reported the extortion attempts to authorities. “He was told to pay Jizya, and he was threatened that if the police were informed, his wife would be kidnapped. Yesterday, he was killed,” Basu said.
Basu also claimed that multiple violent incidents targeting Hindus had occurred within a short span. “In the last 24 hours, two incidents have taken place,” he said, describing what he called a pervasive climate of fear among minority communities. Emphasising that the victim had no political affiliation, Basu added, “Sarat was a very normal man. He had no political agenda. He was just running his grocery shop to earn a living.”
Who Was Sarat Chakraborty Mani?
Sarat Chakraborty Mani, 40, was a grocery trader from Sadharchar Union in Shibpur Upazila and the son of Madan Thakur. He was described by acquaintances as quiet, honest and well-known in the local business community, with no known disputes. Mani had earlier worked in South Korea before returning to Bangladesh a few years ago. He later built a house in the Brahmandi area of Narsingdi town, where he lived with his wife, Antara Mukherjee, and their 12-year-old son, Abhik Chakraborty.
What Happened In Narsingdi?
On Monday night, Mani was running his grocery shop at Charsindur Bazar in Palash Upazila, on the outskirts of Dhaka, when unidentified attackers allegedly assaulted him while he was attending to customers.
Days before his killing, Mani had expressed deep concern over rising violence in the country. In a Facebook post dated December 19, he wrote, “So much fire everywhere, so much violence. My birthplace has turned into a valley of death…” Family members said he was deeply disturbed by the deteriorating situation.