Bangladesh: Hindu widow gang-raped
In a disturbing incident in Kaliganj sub-district of Jhenaidah, central Bangladesh, a 40-year-old Hindu widow was subjected to severe physical and sexual violence on January 4, 2026. According to police reports and the victim’s complaint, two men-identified as Shahin and Hasan-allegedly gang-raped her, tied her to a tree, forcibly cut her hair, recorded the act, and shared the video on social media.
The victim, who had purchased a two-storey house and land worth approximately 2 million taka (around $17,000) from Shahin and his brother about two-and-a-half years ago, stated that Shahin had repeatedly harassed her with inappropriate advances after the transaction. She claimed the harassment intensified when she rejected him.
On the evening of the attack, while two relatives were visiting her home in Ward No. 7 of Kaliganj municipality, the accused allegedly broke in, committed the assault, and demanded 50,000 taka in extortion money. When refused, they reportedly beat the relatives and forced them to flee. As the woman raised an alarm, the perpetrators tied her to a tree, shaved her head as an act of humiliation, and continued torturing her until she lost consciousness.
Local residents later found her in critical condition and rushed her to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital. Hospital superintendent Dr. Md Mostafizur Rahman confirmed through medical examination that she had suffered abuse, though she initially withheld details. The victim subsequently filed a formal complaint at Kaliganj Police Station, naming both accused.
Jhenaidah Additional Superintendent of Police Billal Hossain stated that authorities recorded her statement and pledged stringent legal action following a thorough investigation. Reports indicate the two men were arrested shortly after the complaint.
This assault occurred amid a surge in reported attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, since the formation of the interim Government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in August 2024. The incident coincided with the death of Khokon Chandra Das, a 50-year-old Hindu businessman in Shariatpur district, who succumbed to burn injuries on January 3, 2026, after being stabbed, doused with petrol, and set ablaze by a mob on December 31, 2025. Das had managed to escape initially by jumping into a pond but died in hospital.
Similar cases include the lynching of 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das on December 18, 2025, in Mymensingh, where he was beaten, hanged from a tree, and set on fire over unproven blasphemy allegations stemming from a workplace dispute. Another incident involved Amrit Mondal, a 29-year-old Hindu man killed by a mob on December 24, 2025, in Rajbari’s Kalimohar Union; authorities described it as related to extortion rather than communal motives.
India has expressed deep concern over what it terms “unremitting hostility” toward minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, under the current administration, documenting over 2,900 incidents of violence since August 2024. New Delhi has urged Dhaka to fulfill its responsibility to protect all citizens and maintain law and order.
The Bangladesh interim Government has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to safeguarding minorities, condemning isolated acts of violence and attributing some incidents to criminal or political motives rather than targeted communal attacks. Officials insist that the nation upholds communal harmony and that perpetrators will face justice.
These events underscore ongoing challenges to minority safety and social stability in Bangladesh, raising questions about effective governance and the rule of law during the transitional period ahead of planned elections.
