Persecution of religious minorities continue unabated.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
In yet another attack targeting minorities, a 60-year-old Hindu ashram worker was hacked to death in Bangladesh on Friday by a group of unidentified assailants.
Nityaranjan Pandey of Thakur Anukul Chandra Satsanga Paramtirtha Hemayetpurdham ashram was attacked near the ashram in the northwestern district of Pabna’s Hemayetpur Upazila.
According to the police, the assailants hacked him in the neck and fled. Pandey died on the spot, reported PTI.
“As he was walking, several attackers hacked him in the neck … He died on the spot,” Abdullah Al-Hasan, the local police station chief, told AFP.
“As a diabetic, he used to take a walk early in the morning. He had been working at the monastery for around 40 years. In recent years he was the head of its office staff,” he added.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the murder.
Bangladesh has been witnessing rising intolerance towards minorities, secularists, and activists since 2013.
A Hindu priest was killed earlier this week by ISIS militants. A 68-year-old Hindu businessman was hacked to death on Wednesday when he allegedly refused to pay money to drug addicts.
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. On Sunday, a Christian businessman was hacked to death by unidentified men.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for many of the murders and bomb blasts happened in recent years. The Sheikh Hasina-led government is blaming the opposition for the attacks while refusing the claim that military outfits like ISIS and al-Qaeda are taking root in the Muslim dominated country.
Recently, the Modi government of India has decided to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, which will exempt minority communities from Pakistan and Bangladesh who have fled to India fearing religious prosecution being branded as ‘illegal immigrants,’ and allows seeking citizenship.