A Hindu businessman was brutally beaten to death by a mob in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in a shocking incident that has stirred widespread outrage across the country.
On July 9, Lal Chand Sohag, a 39-year-old trader, was attacked near Mitford Hospital. According to reports, a group of assailants first beat him with bricks and stones before severely crushing his head and body. Witnesses say the mob stripped off his clothes and some attackers were seen dancing and stomping on his lifeless body.
Media sources suggest the violence may have stemmed from a business dispute or an extortion attempt, though the true motive behind the attack has yet to be confirmed.
The incident sparked massive protests throughout Bangladesh. On Sunday, legal expert Yunus Ali Akand filed a petition with the High Court requesting the formation of a high-level investigative committee to probe the killing.
Authorities have identified 19 suspects, with an additional 15 to 20 unnamed individuals allegedly involved. Police have already arrested five people in connection with the lynching. The victim’s sister, 42-year-old Manjuara Begum, filed an official complaint on Thursday. Among the arrested are Mahmudul Hasan Mohin, Tarek Rahman Robin, Alamgir, Monir, and another unidentified individual.
Demonstrations demanding justice were held at universities and in several districts on the night following the incident. Student leaders accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of failing to control its activists. Student Union President Saikat said, “After Sheikh Hasina’s fall from power, BNP leaders have turned against each other in their struggle for dominance, leading to such atrocities. Simply expelling the culprits from the party is not enough — they must face trial and punishment.”
Protests were also held on Saturday at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus of the University of Dhaka.
Reports indicate that attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities have surged across Bangladesh since 2024. On April 19, 2024, Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a 58-year-old Hindu leader and vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council, was abducted from his home and murdered by four men on motorcycles in a nearby village.
Following a long-standing student movement, the government of Sheikh Hasina was overthrown on August 5, 2024, forcing her into exile. The political collapse has led to a breakdown in law and order across the country.
Vulnerable and unprotected, religious minorities — particularly Hindus — have become prime targets for politically uncontrolled groups.
According to a report by the Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council, between August 4 and December 31, 2024, 32 Hindus were killed in religiously motivated violence. Additionally, 13 incidents of rape and assault were reported, and approximately 133 temples were attacked.