Hindu journalist critically wounded in chilling Bangladesh shooting
Rana Pratap, 45, ice factory owner and acting editor, was known locally as a hardworking man balancing business and journalism.
In yet another disturbing incident targeting a member of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, a 45-year-old factory owner and newspaper editor was brutally killed on Monday evening, sending fresh shockwaves through the country and deepening concerns over the safety of minorities.
Rana Pratap, who ran an ice factory and served as the acting editor of a local Bangladeshi daily, was shot in the head by a group of men who had called him out of his workplace. According to local accounts, the attackers also slit his throat, leaving him fatally wounded in a narrow alley near the factory premises.
The killing took place around 6 pm in the Kopalia Bazar area of Manirampur sub-district in Jashore, located in southwestern Bangladesh. Residents of the area said the attack was swift and ruthless, giving Pratap little chance to defend himself or seek help.
Local sources claimed that Pratap had multiple cases filed against him, though the nature and status of those cases remain unclear. Family members and acquaintances, however, insist that whatever disputes he may have had did not justify the brutal manner in which his life was taken.
Akhtar Faruk Mintu, chairman of the Manoharpur Union Parishad, confirmed the details of the incident and shared background information about the victim. He said Pratap was the son of a schoolteacher from Arua village in the neighbouring Keshabpur sub-district and had been running the ice factory in Kopalia Bazar for the past two years.
According to Mintu, Pratap was at the factory on Monday evening when a group of men arrived and asked him to step outside. Trusting them, he followed. They then led him into a nearby alley, where he was shot. By the time locals became aware of what had happened, Pratap had already suffered fatal injuries.
For those who knew him, Pratap was more than just a businessman or a journalist. He was described as a quiet, hardworking man who tried to balance running a small industrial unit with his responsibilities in the newsroom. As acting editor of a daily newspaper, he was known locally for his involvement in reporting community issues and keeping the paper running during difficult times.
His death comes at a particularly sensitive moment. Over the past few months, reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh have increased, raising fears among minority communities. Pratap’s killing follows closely after the reported rape of a Hindu widow and the murders of at least three Hindu men since December. Together, these incidents have sparked anger, grief and a growing sense of insecurity.
Human rights activists and minority leaders have condemned what they see as a pattern of targeted violence and have questioned the response of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Critics argue that repeated attacks, coupled with slow investigations and few visible convictions, have emboldened perpetrators and left minorities feeling unprotected.
“This is not just about one man,” said a local Hindu community leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. People are asking whether their lives matter and whether the state can truly protect them.”
Police officials have said an investigation is underway and that efforts are being made to identify and arrest those responsible. However, skepticism remains high among residents, many of whom say they have heard similar assurances after previous incidents, only to see cases drag on without closure.
Pratap’s family has been left devastated. Relatives said he was the main earning member of the household and had worked hard to build a stable life. His sudden and violent death has not only robbed them of a loved one but also plunged them into uncertainty about their future.
As night fell over Kopalia Bazar on Monday, the ice factory stood silent, its machines switched off, a stark contrast to the busy routine Pratap once maintained.