Bangladesh: Hindu Journalist Murdered Despite Paying 'Protection Money' to Extremists

• Journalist Rana Pratap Bairagi was shot dead in Bangladesh's Jessore district despite paying 'protection money' to fundamentalist Islamic groups.
• Bairagi, 38, owner of an ice factory and acting editor of 'Dainik BD Khabar', was killed on January 5 by unknown assailants.
• Police identified Bairagi as an active member of the banned 'Purbo Bangla Communist Party' and suspect internal party strife.
• Family members claim Bairagi, a voice for minorities, was targeted as a Hindu leader, and his murder aimed to silence others.
• Another Hindu individual, Mani Chakraborty, was beaten to death on the same day, intensifying fear among minorities.

Why It Matters: The murder of a Hindu journalist in Bangladesh, despite paying protection money, highlights severe minority fear and political violence.