Hindu Man Shot Dead in Bangladesh Amid Rising Minority Attacks Ahead of Elections

• Rana Pratap Bairagi, a Hindu youth, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Monirampur upazila, Jessore district, Bangladesh.
• This marks the fifth reported incident of violence against minorities in less than three weeks, raising concerns ahead of crucial elections.
• Bairagi was the acting editor of Narail-based daily BD Khobor and also involved in a local ice factory business.
• Recent attacks include the death of Hindu businessman Khokon Das and the lynching of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das over false blasphemy claims.
• Other incidents involve a Hindu woman allegedly gang-raped and a district administrator, Annapurna Debnath, verbally abused by Islamist activists.

Why It Matters: Escalating violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh sparks alarm ahead of crucial elections.