In another incident of murder of Hindus in Bangladesh, a 30-year-old Hindu man was fatally run over by an SUV at a fuel station in Rajbari district, after he attempted to stop the vehicle from leaving without paying for petrol. Police and witnesses said the incident occurred when Ripon Saha demanded payment after the vehicle was fuelled at the fuel station.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Friday at Karim Filling Station near Goalanda Mor along the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Rajbari Sadar upazila. According to police, a black Land Cruiser bearing registration Dhaka Metro-Gha 13-3476 arrived at the station and refuelled with approximately Tk 5,000 (about ₹3,710) worth of petrol.
When the driver tried to drive away without settling the bill, Ripon Saha, a fuel station worker on duty, ran and stood in front of the vehicle on the road to stop it and demand payment. CCTV footage reviewed by authorities shows the SUV accelerating forward, hitting Saha and crushing him. Another worker named Jakir Hossain also ran after them, but found Ripon’s body on the highway with severe injuries to the head and face. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police from Ahladipur Highway Police Station recovered Saha’s body from the highway and conducted an autopsy before releasing it to his family. The victim is son of Pabitra Saha from Sahapara in Khan Khanapur area of Rajbari Sadar.
Authorities later arrested two suspects, Abul Hashem (also known as Sujan), 55, the vehicle’s owner, who was a passenger in the SUV, and the driver, Kamal Hossain, 43. Notably, Hashem is a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and is a former treasurer of Rajbari district unit of the party. Earlier, he was the president of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of BNP.
The vehicle was seized, and a murder case is expected to be filed based on the evidence, including CCTV footage and witness statements.
Senior police official Ziaur Rahman told local media that the act appeared deliberate, with the driver accelerating after Saha blocked the path. While the primary motive seems tied to the payment dispute, the incident has drawn attention amid broader concerns over minority safety in Bangladesh.
This killing is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting Hindus in recent weeks, heightening fears within the community as the country approaches general elections. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) has reported a surge in communal violence, recording 51 incidents in December 2025 alone, many allegedly aimed at intimidating minority voters.
The most horrific incident was the mob lynching of Dipu Das, who was crushed to death by a violent Muslim mob on false allegations of blasphemy. After killing him, the mob hung his body from a tree on the road, and then set it on fire.
India has repeatedly expressed concern over the pattern of attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, who make up about 7.95% of Bangladesh’s population. New Delhi has urged decisive action to address communal violence. The interim govt of Bangladesh continue to deny any communal angle behind the rising crimes against Hindus.
