hindu-worker-killed-at-fuel-station-in-bangladesh

A Hindu man was crushed to death in Bangladesh after he attempted to stop a vehicle from leaving a petrol pump without paying for fuel, in an incident that has renewed concerns over violence targeting minorities in the country.

 

The incident occurred in Rajbari district early on Friday, when the victim, identified as 30-year-old Ripon Saha, was working at Karim Filling Station in Goalanda Mor, according to local media reports quoting police officials.

 

“We will file a murder case. The worker stood in front of the car after they refused to pay for fuel, and they ran him over before fleeing,” Rajbari Sadar Police chief Khondakar Ziaur Rahman was quoted as saying by news portal bdnews24.com.

 

According to police and eyewitnesses, a black SUV arrived at the filling station around 4.30 am and took fuel worth approximately Tk 5,000. When the driver attempted to leave without paying, Saha tried to block the vehicle. The car allegedly ran him over before speeding away, killing him on the spot.

 

Police later seized the vehicle and arrested its owner Abul Hashem alias Sujan, 55, and his driver Kamal Hossain, 43.

 

Also read: 'At least 15 Hindus killed in Bangladesh in 45 days'

 

Hashem, a contractor by profession, is a former treasurer of the Rajbari district Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a former president of the district Jubo Dal, police said.

 

The killing comes amid growing concern over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. According to the 2022 census, Hindus constitute approximately 13.13 million people, or about 7.95 per cent of the country’s population.

 

Earlier this month, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) alleged that communal violence had been rising sharply as the country moves closer to parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12.

 

In a statement, the council claimed that the violence was aimed at preventing minority voters from exercising their franchise freely. It said 51 incidents of communal violence were recorded in December 2025 alone.

 

Several violent incidents involving members of the Hindu community have been reported in recent weeks across Bangladesh, including shootings, lynchings and targeted killings in districts such as Narshingdi, Mymensingh, Rajbari, Jessore, Naogaon and Rangpur.