A 23-year-old Hindu man was burned to death inside a garage in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, with CCTV showing a suspect, raising alarms over minority safety ahead of elections.
A 23-year-old Hindu man was burned to death inside a garage in Narsingdi, Bangladesh [Photo: X]
Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik, a 23-year-old Hindu man, was tragically burned to death in a garage in Bangladesh's Narsingdi district late Friday night. Police say CCTV footage from the scene shows suspicious movement near the site shortly before the fire erupted.
What was initially thought to be an accident is now being investigated as a potential targeted attack. The shocking incident has stirred fear among local minority communities and raised serious questions about safety in the region. Authorities have begun collecting evidence and examining the footage.
Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik was a 23-year-old Hindu man working as a garage labourer in Narsingdi, Bangladesh. He originally belonged to Lakshmipur village in Cumilla district. Chanchal had moved to Narsingdi in search of steady work and lived modestly near his workplace.
He was the sole earning member of his family. Locals described him as quiet and hardworking, with no known personal disputes. On the night of the incident, he was sleeping inside the garage when the fire broke out, trapping him inside and leading to his death.
Police in Narsingdi have secured CCTV footage from cameras near the garage. Superintendent Abdullah Al Faruque said investigators observed footage showing a person moving near the garage before the fire started. Authorities are examining whether the fire was caused by an external act or an electrical fault, but local eyewitnesses believe the blaze was intentionally set.
One video circulating online appears to show an individual igniting the fire outside the shop before flames spread rapidly through the structure, trapping the victim inside. Firefighters arrived after residents raised the alarm and struggled for nearly an hour to bring the blaze under control.
Chanchal’s family has labelled the killing a planned murder and demanded the immediate arrest of the suspects and the strictest punishment. Relatives and neighbours described him as a quiet, honest young man with no known enemies, intensifying suspicions that the attack was deliberate rather than accidental.
Community leaders and minority organisations have voiced alarm over the incident. They say it fits a worrying pattern of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, with several similar attacks reported in recent weeks and months.
The killing comes amid growing concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus. Recent weeks have seen multiple reported attacks against minority individuals, including other burnings and murders, that have fuelled fear within the community.
Human rights advocates say incidents like this deepen a sense of insecurity among minority groups and call for stronger protection measures from authorities, especially with national elections approaching.
Narsingdi police have registered a case and seized evidence from the scene. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning potential witnesses to identify suspects.
So far, no arrests have been announced, and authorities have not confirmed a motive. Police officials have urged calm, saying a thorough investigation is underway and promising action once more information emerges.
