Violence Against Minority: Damudya Businessman Khokon Chandra Dies After Being Set on Fire

Khokon Chandra Das, a businessman from Damudya in Shariatpur, has died. He passed away on Saturday (3 January) at around 7:30 am while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Earlier, on Wednesday night at around 9:30 pm, Khokon was attacked with sharp weapons in the Tiloi area of Damudya. After that, the assailants set him on fire by pouring petrol-like substances on his body. Local people rescued him and took him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital that night. After receiving primary treatment there, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital the same night. From there, he was shifted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Khokon Chandra was a medicine trader at Keurbhanga Bazar in the upazila and was also involved in agent banking.

Pranta Das, the nephew-in-law of the deceased Khokon Das, said that Khokon Chandra Das had been undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka since late Thursday night. Early on Saturday morning, his physical condition suddenly began to deteriorate. At around 7:30 am, he died while receiving treatment in the ICU.

Pranta Das said, “We are at Shahbagh Police Station to complete the legal procedures. After completing the legal process and post-mortem examination, we will take the body to the village. He will be buried at his ancestral home today.”

Bidhan Sarkar, head of the Burn Unit department at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said over the phone that a patient named Khokon Chandra Das was being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. About 30 percent of his body was burned. For better treatment, he was taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where he died this morning while undergoing treatment.

Earlier, while injured, Khokon named two individuals involved in the attack. They are Sohag Khan (27), son of Babul Khan of the Kaneshwar area, and Rabbi Mollay (21), son of Shamsuddin Mollay. During preliminary investigation, police also learned the name of another person involved in the incident. He is Palash Sardar (25), son of local Shahid Sardar.

Following the incident, traders of Keurbhanga Bazar and residents of Tiloi village became agitated. They demanded the arrest and punishment of the accused persons.

A case was filed at the police station late Thursday night in connection with the incident. The case was filed by the injured Khokon Das’s father, Paresh Chandra Das, naming the three youths as accused.

Damudya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Rabiul Haque said, “We have received information that Keurbhanga Bazar businessman Khokon Chandra Das has died while undergoing treatment in Dhaka. We are maintaining contact with Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. After the post-mortem examination there, the body will be handed over to the family members. Police are also trying to arrest the accused named in the case filed over the incident.”