ISIS claims responsibility for killing.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
A 68-year-old Hindu businessman was hacked to death in Bangladesh on Wednesday when he allegedly refused to pay money to drug addicts.
The incident happened amid growing suspicions that the militant outfit Islamic State is spreading its wings in the country. Bangladesh has witnessed brutal killings of secular activists and religious minorities in recent months, reported the Press Trust of India.
The murdered businessman Debesh Chandra Pramanik was attacked inside his shop in Gaibandha of northwestern Gobindaganj Upazila. Pramanik died on the spot after the assailants slit his throat using sharp weapons.
Meanwhile, the US-based SITE Intelligence Group said in a tweet that the ISIS claimed the responsibility of killing.
“Via its ‘Amaq Agency, #ISIS claimed killing a Hindu businessman in Gobindaganj Upazila #Bangladesh,” tweeted the agency.
The police have arrested a suspect, Nepen Chandra, who is reportedly one of the assailants.
Pramanik’s family said that he had refused to pay extortion money to a group of drug addicts a few days ago.
“There was a heated exchange of words after my father refused to pay them the money they demanded,” his son Debashish Chandra was quoted as saying by PTI.
A number of secularists, activists, bloggers, and atheists were murdered in Bangladesh since 2013. In April, a gay rights activist employed by the U.S. embassy was hacked to death. A secular student activist was also killed in the same month.
The series of killings have led to a political blame game in the country with Sheikh Hasina-led government blaming the opposition and the opposition criticizing the government for politicizing the murders.