Bangladesh: Hindu Businessman Murdered Despite Paying "Protection Money"

• Rana Pratap Bairagi, a Hindu businessman and journalist in Bangladesh's Jessore district, was shot dead with seven bullets despite paying 3 lakh taka in "protection money" to radical groups.
• His murder, followed by the lynching of another Hindu man, Mani Chakraborty, has intensified fear among minority Hindus, who feel systematically targeted.
• Armed radical gangs, allegedly linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, demand "protection tax" or "Jizya" from Hindu families, with victims often too scared to report.
• Bairagi, known for raising minority issues and his political activism, was seen as an "inconvenient voice" in a hostile environment.
• The incidents have shattered the sense of security for Hindus in Bangladesh, leading many to consider fleeing to West Bengal, India.

Why It Matters: Paying "protection money" offers no safety for Hindus in Bangladesh, facing systematic targeting and fear of extremist groups.