The tragic death of 25-year-old Chanchal Bhowmik in Narsingdi has amplified international concerns regarding the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh as the country approaches its national elections on February 12, 2026.
The Narsingdi Incident
Chanchal Bhowmik, a Hindu youth working at a garage, was found charred to death on the night of Friday, January 23, 2026.
- Discovery: Bhowmik was sleeping inside the garage when a fire broke out. Rescuers had to break the shop’s shutters to reach him, but his body was already severely burned.
- Investigation: Narsingdi Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Faruque stated that CCTV footage has revealed a “person of interest” moving around the area at the time of the fire.
- Foul Play: While an electrical fault has not been ruled out, authorities are investigating the possibility of an “external factor” (arson) given the suspicious presence caught on camera. No arrests have been made as of January 25.
Minority Safety: Reported Statistics
The internal security situation under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus remains a point of contention between human rights organizations and the state.
| Reporting Agency | Period | Reported Statistics |
| Interim Government (Official Police Data) | Jan – Dec 2025 | 645 total incidents involving minorities; 71 classified as “communal” (including 38 temple vandalisms and 1 murder). 574 were labeled as “criminal/social disputes.” |
| Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) | Aug – Nov 2024 | 2,673 reported atrocities and 82 deaths of Hindus during this four-month period. |
| BHBCUC / Rights Groups | Dec 2025 | 51 incidents of communal violence in a single month, including 10 murders. |
| India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Aug 2024 – Present | Over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities documented by independent assessments. |
| News9 / Rights Reports | June 2025 – Jan 2026 | 116 deaths reported in a seven-month surge of attacks. |
Political and Social Context
- The “Age of Terror”: Former PM Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, recently released an audio message claiming Bangladesh has “plunged into an age of terror” and called for the overthrow of the Yunus regime.
- Election Tensions: The Awami League is currently banned from participating in the upcoming February 12 elections, leading to a volatile political vacuum.
- Global Protests: On January 21, over 500 members of the British Hindu diaspora gathered at Parliament Square in London to protest the “continued torture, persecution, and killing of minorities” in Bangladesh.