A well-known Hindu community leader was reportedly kidnapped from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district, Bangladesh, according to a media report on Friday. The body of 58-year-old Bhabesh Chandra Roy, who lived in Basudebpur village, located about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was found on Thursday night, The Daily Star reported, citing police and family members. Roy, the vice president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, was a prominent figure in the local Hindu community. Police discovered his body around 10:00 pm the previous night.

According to Bhabesh's wife, Shantana Roy, he was home in the afternoon when he received a call around 4:30 pm from the perpetrators, who confirmed his presence. About 30 minutes after the call, four men arrived on bikes and allegedly kidnapped Bhabesh from his premises. Witnesses reported seeing him being taken to Narabari village, where he was severely beaten to death. The attackers then sent his unconscious body back home in a van. Bhabesh was rushed to a local health complex by family and locals and then transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The police then sent his body for an autopsy. Bhabesh's wife, Shantana Roy, said she recognised two attackers. The police are preparing to file a case and arrest the suspects.

A report by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a Dhaka-based human rights group, found 147 incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu homes, temples, and businesses in Bangladesh last month. These incidents included the destruction of around 408 homes, with 36 cases involving arson. The report also mentioned 113 attacks on businesses owned by minority community members, 32 attacks on temples and mosques of the Ahmadiyya sect, and 92 instances of idol vandalism in temples.

In September 2024, Prothom Alo, Bangladesh's well-known Bengali daily, declared that after the fall of the Awami League government, there had been multiple attacks on minority communities across the country, with the Hindu community being particularly targeted. Many Hindu homes, businesses, and places of worship continue to face attacks in several areas. India has repeatedly expressed concerns about the mistreatment of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the safety of minorities in Bangladesh with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during a meeting at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.