Deadly Attack on Free Speech: Hindu Journalist Killed in front of his Mymensingh Home by Muslim Assailant in Bangladesh

Swapan Kumar BhadraRupali Singha | Dhaka | Oct 12, 2024:: A veteran Hindu journalist was hacked to death in front of his house in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila. This incident took place in the Tanpara area of ​​Majhipara of Shambhuganj upazila at around 11 o’clock on Saturday.

Deceased Swapan Kumar Bhadra (65) Vice President of Tarakanda Press Club. He was earlier the Tarakanda upazila representative of ‘Dainik Swajan’ newspaper published from Mymensingh. Currently he was not working in any media. However, he used to regularly write about various events and issues of the area on the social media Facebook. For the last couple of days Bhadra was engaged in raising voice for persecuted minorities and illegal drug peddling during Durga Puja festivals.  Kumar Bhadra has two sons and a daughter. Younger son Roni Bhadra is serving in the army.

Family members of the deceased alleged that Swapan Kumar Bhadra was killed for his bold writings. He was also attacked a year ago. In view of their complaints, the police arrested a young man named Sagar Mia (18) this afternoon. Sagar Mia is son of Babul Mia of Majhipara village of the same Mymensingh Sadar Upazila.

Jewel Bhadra, the nephew of the deceased said, uncle (Swapan Bhadra) was sitting in front of his house around 11 o’clock today. At that time he was hit on the head. The left wrist was severed. Hearing the screams of his aunt (Sabita Dhar), local people came forward. He was rescued in bloody condition and taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

At around 2:30 today, a tangle of people was seen in front of the mortuary of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Kotwali Model Police Station SI Abul Kashem was taking care of Swapan Bhadra’s body. He told the media, there are six deep cuts on the neck. Left wrist is severed. Apart from this, there are more injuries on the body.

Manik Sarkar, nephew of the deceased Swapan Kumar Bhadra, said, “My uncle was killed due to posting on Facebook about drug peddling and minority rights. The assailant was angry because my uncle wrote. For this, the wrists were severed to kill him”.

Mymensingh Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Safiqul Islam Khan said that the detainee is known as a scoundrel and drug addict. He is also accused of stabbing people several times.

After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina Government, Hindus and other religious minorities are facing great trouble during the interim government led by its chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Read also: ‘Deplorable… systematic pattern of desecration’: India condemns attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh (Indian Express)

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__Inputs from Agencies.