Another Hindu man killed in Bangladesh over land dispute, renewing debate on minority safety and crime classification |
A long-standing land dispute in northern Bangladesh turned fatal on January 26, when an elderly Hindu man was killed during a confrontation with neighbors in Razarhat upazila of Kurigram district, once again raising concerns over the safety of minority communities and how crimes involving minorities are officially classified.
The deceased has been identified as Madhu Chandra Shil, aged between 60 and 62, a resident of Joydev Malsabari village under Umar Majid Union. According to police and local sources, Shil had been involved for years in a dispute with the family of his neighbor, Abed Ali, over the boundaries of their adjoining land.
Family members said the conflict escalated on Monday (January 26) at around 12:30 pm when Madhu Shil was planting trees in front of his home. This reportedly angered his opponents. Ashraf Ali (45), son of Abed Ali, allegedly confronted Shil and ordered him to stop the planting.
Shrishti Rani, the wife of Shil’s son, said Abed Ali uprooted the newly planted saplings, triggering a heated argument. “As the dispute intensified, Ashraf Ali, his wife Lucky Begum, and several others pushed my father-in-law,” she alleged. “He fell onto the cemented structure near a tube well and collapsed.”
Local residents rushed Madhu Shil to Kurigram General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His body was later brought back to the village, leaving the local Hindu community in mourning.
Following the incident, a police team led by Rajarhat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Wadud........