Bangladesh: Hindu Journalist Murdered Despite 'Protection Money', Minorities Face Terror

• Rana Pratap Bairagi, a Hindu journalist and businessman in Jessore, Bangladesh, was shot dead despite paying 'protection money' to radical Islamist groups for months.
• His murder, alongside the lynching of Mani Chakraborty on the same day, has intensified fear and despair among minority Hindus, who feel systematically targeted.
• Villagers report widespread extortion, with armed fundamentalists demanding 'protection tax,' sometimes framed as 'jizya,' from Hindu households.
• Bairagi was politically active and raised minority issues, which relatives believe made him a target, especially after Sheikh Hasina's removal from power.
• The killings highlight that compliance offers no safety, leading many Hindus to consider fleeing to India for survival.

Why It Matters: Targeted killings and extortion in Bangladesh prove 'protection money' offers no safety for Hindus, fueling widespread fear.