Melbourne- May 24, 2025 – The village of Dohor Moshihati in Jessore’s Abhaynagar upazila has turned nearly male-less, with terrified women left behind, following the brutal killing of Krishak Dal leader Tariqul Islam. In the aftermath of the politically charged murder, at least 20 Hindu homes were looted, vandalised, and set on fire, creating panic and displacement. Law enforcement has since been deployed in the area to maintain order.
Attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh continue to raise grave concerns, with a recent violent incident reported from Dohor Moshihati, a Hindu-majority village in Jessore district. On the night of 22 May 2025, armed Islamist attackers vandalised, looted, and set fire to numerous homes, displacing over 500 residents. Victims allege that local police failed to respond in time despite urgent pleas for help. Thirteen houses were completely destroyed, twenty others partially damaged, and at least 31 cows were looted or injured in the fire. The attack has left the village traumatised and highlights the ongoing vulnerability of religious minorities in the region.
On Thursday evening, Tariqul Islam (50), president of the Krishak Dal’s Nowapara municipal unit, was reportedly lured from his home and brutally attacked — both hacked and shot — at a house in Dohor Moshihati village. According to his family, the murder stemmed from a dispute over a local fish enclosure lease. Tariqul was the son of Ibrahim Sardar of Dhopadi village.
Prothom Alo reported: When journalists visited the village on Friday morning, they found charred homes, burnt appliances, broken furniture, and scattered personal belongings. No men were present — all had fled. A few women remained, visibly traumatised.
Police sources said they found Tariqul at Piltu Biswas’s house with three gunshot wounds and multiple stab injuries. He was rushed to Abhaynagar Upazila Health Complex, where doctors confirmed he had already died before arrival. Dr. Md. Mahiuddin stated that Tariqul’s body was soaked in blood, with severe sharp weapon injuries to the neck, shoulders, and head, and both wrists nearly severed.
Later that night, a group of about 150 people attacked at least 20 homes in Dohor Moshihati. The mob looted valuables, torched houses, and destroyed furniture and appliances. Several motorcycles and a battery-powered van were also burned. Fires spread to nearby trees, leaving the village in ruins. At least 10 people were injured during the attacks, and 25-year-old Sagar Biswas, the son of local resident Sujit Biswas, was abducted.
The violence followed a religious event held at Sujit Biswas’s house, where over 600 people had been invited and religious music was being played. The attack started around 8 pm, shortly after attendees learned of the nearby killing. Eyewitnesses said the attackers looted valuables first, then gathered household items in piles and set them on fire. Religious instruments and all food prepared for the event were destroyed.
Housewife Panna Biswas said, “We had a TV, fridge, jewellery, passports, medical prescriptions, and 150,000 taka in cash. Now we have nothing — only the six of us survived.” Another resident, Smriti Biswas, added, “They stormed into our home, took our jewellery and money, beat me mercilessly, and kicked me to the ground.”
They alleged that several cows had been looted during the attack. Iqbal Kabir Zahid, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh and Chief Adviser of the Bhobodaha Water Drainage Struggle Committee, visited the affected homes along with other activists. He condemned both the murder and the subsequent communal violence, demanding justice and compensation for the victims.
“We want justice for Tariqul’s murder and arrest of the culprits. But using the murder as an excuse to loot, vandalise, and burn homes in Dohor Moshihati is inexcusable. We strongly condemn this and demand compensation for the victims,” Zahid stated.
Abdul Alim, Officer-in-Charge of Abhaynagar Police Station, confirmed that the killing was rooted in a conflict over a fishery lease. No formal case had been filed at the time of his statement. He said police were in control of the situation in Dohor Moshihati, and Sagar Biswas, who had gone into hiding, was rescued on Friday afternoon and is now in police custody.
