A Hindu businessman in Bangladesh narrowly escaped death after being brutally attacked by a mob, marking the fourth attack on the minority Hindu community in the past two weeks. The victim, Khokan Chandra, was beaten, stabbed and set on fire, but managed to save his life by jumping into a nearby pond. He suffered serious burn injuries and is currently in critical condition.

The incident took place on New Year’s Eve in Keurbhanga Bazar, where Khokan, 40, runs a pharmacy shop. On Tuesday night, around 9 pm, he was returning home after closing his shop when he was stopped by a group of men in the Tiloi area. The attackers allegedly surrounded him and began assaulting him violently.

According to reports, the miscreants stabbed Khokan several times using sharp weapons. They then poured petrol on his body and set him on fire. In a desperate attempt to survive, Khokan ran and jumped into a nearby pond. Local residents noticed the incident and rushed to help him.

He was later taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, where doctors said his condition remains serious. So far, the motive behind the attack is not known, and the identities of those responsible have not been confirmed by authorities.

The attack has further increased fear and tension among Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, who have faced a series of violent incidents in recent weeks. These attacks reportedly intensified after the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, an anti-India youth leader. Protests following his death have taken a strong anti-India tone, with allegations that the killers fled to India.

Just a day before Khokan’s attack, another Hindu man, Bajendra Biswas, was shot dead while on duty as a security guard at a garment factory in Mymensingh. Local media reported that the accused, Noman Mia, asked Biswas if he should shoot him before pulling the trigger. Both men were members of the Ansar Bahini, a paramilitary force under Bangladesh’s Home Ministry.

Earlier, Amrit Mondal was lynched over alleged extortion, and factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was killed over blasphemy accusations. That incident sparked widespread criticism and international concern about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. India has expressed serious concern over what it described as continued hostility and violence against minority communities in the neighbouring country.