In Abhaynagar Upazila of Jashore district, Bangladesh, a wave of political violence has not only claimed the life of a local leader but also unleashed terror on an innocent Hindu Matua community. Following the murder of farmer leader SM Tariqul Islam, arson, looting, and destruction were carried out exclusively in homes belonging to the Matua community, a religious minority. Locals insist they had no involvement in the incident, yet they were systematically targeted.
The Murder and Its Aftermath
On Thursday evening (May 22), SM Tariqul Islam (50), president of the Nawapara municipal unit of the Krishak Dal, was killed while attending a meeting in Dhohor Mashiyati village to discuss leasing a fish enclosure. Eyewitnesses and police sources say 7-8 assailants stormed the home of Pintu Bishwas, hacked Tariqul, and then shot him dead. His body was recovered from the scene.
Tariqul’s family alleges a premeditated murder—he was called out of his home, shot in the head, had one hand severed with a sharp weapon, and was even bludgeoned with bricks.
Retaliatory Violence Targets Matua Community
As news of the brutal killing spread, tensions flared in Dhohor Mashiyati village. An enraged mob first set Pintu Bishwas’s house on fire, then proceeded to torch 18 homes belonging to 13 Hindu Matua families.
Survivors recount how attackers arrived in groups, looted belongings, vandalized property, and then set homes ablaze. Terrified residents fled, watching helplessly as their life savings, rice stocks, furniture, kitchen supplies, electronics, and vehicles were reduced to ashes.
Voices of the Victims
Chandika Bishwas, weeping, said, “Two of our houses burned completely. My ailing mother-in-law is lying on the scorched floor. There are no men left in our home.” She asked, “What crime did we commit? We are just Hindu Matuas—not involved in politics. Why were our homes burned?”
Another survivor, Smriti Bishwas, shared, “That night, I fled with my son, daughter-in-law, and husband to a neighboring village. I begged the attackers—take whatever you want, but don’t burn our home. Yet they looted everything and set it on fire. Not just the houses, even the trees around us were scorched.”
Shankar Bishwas lamented, “Because we are Hindu Matuas, is this the price we must pay? We demand justice—the perpetrators must be punished.”
Administrative Response and Investigation
Abhaynagar Police Station OC Md. Abdul Alim stated that additional forces were deployed to control the situation. Two suspects have been detained for questioning, but no case has been filed yet.
He added, “We are identifying those involved. Legal action will follow after investigation. The fire service has brought the flames under control.”
A Neighborhood in Darkness
Since Thursday night, the Matua neighborhood in Dhohor Mashiyati has been without electricity. Most men have fled fearing further attacks, leaving women, children, and the elderly behind. Many families remain under open skies, relying on relatives for food and supplies.
Human Rights Concerns
Leaders of the Left Democratic Alliance in Jashore and Police Superintendent Ronok Jahan visited the site. Student activists and human rights organizations have expressed deep concern, demanding an independent investigation into the violence against the Matua minority.
The brutal murder of Tariqul Islam is tragic, but the subsequent attacks on innocent Hindu Matua families reveal a deeper human rights crisis—one that demands urgent accountability.
Publication Date: 24 May, 2025
Reports published in various newspapers on this issue: kalerkantho, prothomalo, somoynews
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