In another troubling incident highlighting the continuing violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu man was shot dead by a colleague in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district, according to local media reports on Tuesday. The killing adds to a growing list of attacks targeting Hindus in the country over the past weeks.

The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Bajendra Biswas, an Ansar member posted at a garment factory in the Mehrabari area. He was allegedly shot by fellow Ansar member Noman Mia, who has since been arrested by the police.

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force, commonly known as the Ansar Bahini, is a paramilitary auxiliary force operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs and plays a role in internal security and law enforcement across the country.

The incident occurred on Monday evening at Sultana Sweaters Limited, where around 20 Ansar personnel were deployed for security duties. According to police and eyewitness accounts cited by Bangladeshi media outlet RTV Online, Bajendra Biswas and Noman Mia were sitting together when the incident took place.

Bajendra was critically injured after Noman allegedly fired a shotgun at his left thigh. Colleagues rushed him to the Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Recounting the sequence of events, Ansar member APC Azahar Ali, who was present at the time and in charge of security at the Labib Group facility, said that there was no visible argument or altercation between the two men before the shooting. He stated that Noman pointed the weapon at Bajendra, asked if he should shoot, and then opened fire before fleeing the scene.

Mymensingh district’s Additional Superintendent of Police (Finance and Administration), Abdullah Al Mamun, confirmed that law enforcement agencies launched an immediate operation in the early hours of Tuesday, leading to Noman Mia’s arrest. He added that a detailed investigation has been initiated to determine the motive behind the killing. The victim’s body has been sent to the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, and legal proceedings are underway.

This killing marks the third reported violent death of a Hindu individual in Bangladesh within less than a week and the second such incident in the Mymensingh region. On December 24, Bangladeshi media reported that 29-year-old Amrit Mondal was allegedly lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar Union.

Earlier, on December 18, another Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was brutally killed in Bhaluka upazila after being falsely accused of blasphemy by a coworker. Das was reportedly lynched by a mob, his body hung from a tree, and later set on fire—an incident that sparked widespread outrage.

Bangladesh has witnessed escalating violence against minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, under the Yunus-led interim government, drawing condemnation from human rights organisations worldwide. Last week, India expressed grave concern over what it described as “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh and said it is closely monitoring developments in the country.