In a disturbing development from Bangladesh, protests against the government have sharply escalated into outright violence targeting the Hindu minority. Recent reports and viral videos have highlighted a gruesome scene where numerous Hindu temples, homes, and establishments have been mercilessly attacked and destroyed by mobs identifying as Islamists. This surge in violence has left many in the Hindu community feeling vulnerable and terrorized.

Amid this chaotic backdrop, a particularly harrowing video has emerged, which demonstrates the depths of brutality reached by the rioters. The footage shows a group of men surrounding the lifeless body of a man. The ground beneath him is stained with blood from his fatally wounded head, and his hands appear to be restrained with handcuffs. The scene captures a shocking moment where one individual, hidden from the camera's view, uses a stick to remove the clothing of the deceased, checking for signs of circumcision. As it becomes apparent that the individual was not circumcised, identifying him as a Hindu, cries of "Hindu, Hindu" erupt from the crowd, who then begin to laugh over the dead man's body in a chilling display of hatred and intolerance.

The virality of the video has sparked outrage and condemnation, yet, due to its graphic content and the sensitive nature of the events depicted, it has been pulled from various social media platforms. This has prevented further spread of the video, although the damage done to communal harmony and the safety of the Hindu community remains profound and troubling.

Hindus Singled Out and Targeted by Islamists in Bangladesh

The political landscape in Bangladesh has been marked by intense turmoil, stemming from controversies over reservations for government jobs. Amid this upheaval, Islamist groups have exploited the situation to unleash severe attacks on the country's Hindu minority.

On the 5th of August, alarming developments were reported as Jihadis launched targeted attacks on Hindu residences, businesses, and places of worship. These assaults were initially sparked by protests against the governance of Sheikh Hasina, who subsequently resigned from her position as Prime Minister. However, her resignation did not quell the unrest or the violence directed at Hindu communities. Dr. S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs, voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.

This distressing trend was first brought to wider attention by reports from OpIndia, which discussed a list of 54 attacks compiled by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. Additionally, The Daily Star, a prominent Bangladeshi newspaper, provided coverage of these incidents. Social media further played a role in disseminating several disturbing images and videos that documented the violence.

As more information came to light with each passing day, the gravity of the situation became more apparent. Following the initial wave of 54 reported attacks, OpIndia updated its coverage on the 6th of August, a Tuesday, detailing seven additional incidents of targeted violence that occurred after the political shift against Sheikh Hasina.

Actor Shanto Khan and His Father Selim Khan, Who Made Movie on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Lynched by a Mob Amid the Violence

In a tragic turn of events amidst the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, actor Shanto Khan and his father, producer-director Selim Khan, were lynched by a violent mob on August 5th. Selim Khan held the position of Chairman at Lakshmipur Model Union Parishad of Chandpur Sadar Upazila, making his and his son's deaths particularly shocking.

The incident unfolded as the Khans tried to leave the area amid growing threats. Their initial escape attempt took them to the Farrukhabad market in the Balia Union, where they were first confronted by hostile individuals. Using pistols, they managed to fire shots that temporarily dispersed the crowd, allowing them a momentary escape. However, their relief was short-lived. They soon ran into another group in the Bagara market area. This second encounter proved fatal as they were brutally beaten and ultimately succumbed to their injuries.

The severity of the situation prevented immediate assistance. "We have come to know about their death. We could not go there because of the safety of our lives," stated Md Sheikh Mohsin Alam, officer-in-charge of Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station. This sentiment was echoed in reports by Daily Star, detailing how the news of Sheikh Hasina's resignation might have spurred the violence that led to their deaths. The report elaborates, "In Chandpur, Selim Khan, chairman of Lakshmipur Union Parishad, and his son Shanto Khan, an actor, were beaten to death. As the news of Hasina’s resignation spread, Selim and his son fled his village and went to Farakkabad Bazar of Balia Union. When people tried to stop them, they managed to flee by opening fire. When they reached the nearby Bagarabazar area, an angry mob caught and killed them. Chandpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohsin Alam confirmed the matter."

Selim Khan was not only a local government leader but also a prominent figure in the entertainment industry as the owner and director of Shapla Media. He directed several popular films, including "Shahenshah" and "Bidrohi," featuring Dhallywood star Shakib Khan. One of his notable directorial ventures was "Tungi Parar Miya Bhai," a film inspired by the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation and father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Shanto Khan's acting career, ignited by his father's filmmaking, saw him participating in numerous projects under his father’s production. At the time of his death, Selim Khan had about ten films in various stages of production, involving many celebrated Tollywood actors. 

Accused of corruption and illegally harvesting sand from the Padma-Meghna river at the Chandpur maritime border, Selim Khan had faced imprisonment for these charges. His troubles compounded when the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated legal proceedings against his son, Shanto Khan, in July of this year for acquiring illegal wealth. The brutal murder of Shanto Khan marks a grim milestone as he was the first actor who portrayed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to be killed.

On the day of the tragic incident, Selim Khan had conversations with key figures in the film industry, revealing the normalcy that preceded the tragedy. “I had spoken to Selim bhai on Monday. Just a few hours later, Shamim Ahmed Rony, director of ‘Commando’ called me from the United States, inquiring if I had received any news. He said his hands were trembling after hearing a distressing news about Selim bhai. When I checked, what I discovered left me numb,” recounted Arindam Das, a Tollywood executive producer who had worked with Selim Khan on numerous projects.

The news of the Khans' deaths has deeply affected those within and outside of Bangladesh. Actor and Lok Sabha MP Deepak Adhikari, better known by his stage name Dev, expressed his dismay during a media interaction in Delhi. “I had been to Bangladesh several times and was floored by the hospitality of the people there. The news of the deaths is upsetting. I hope this phase will end and Bangladesh will be back on tracks soon,” he said. Similarly, actor-turned-politician Bonny Sengupta, who had just completed a production with Selim Khan, shared, “This is shocking. I had completed one of his Bangladeshi productions titled ‘Production No. 1’.” The sense of loss was also palpable in the words of Kaushani Mukhopadhyay, who co-starred with Shanto Khan in the Bangladeshi movie "Piya Re." “I can’t believe he is no more. Shanto was very respectful and had ambitions to make a significant impact in the industry,” she recalled mournfully.

The backdrop to these personal tragedies is the intensifying violence over the last two months, originally sparked by anti-quota protests. This unrest led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who departed from the nation, leaving it in the hands of an "interim government" imposed by the army.