The killing of an elderly Hindu man in Kurigram has once again highlighted growing concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, amid a series of violent incidents reported in recent months. Madhu Chandra Shil (62) was killed on Monday after being pushed during a dispute over land boundaries in Joydeb Malsabari village of Rajarhat upazila.

Police and local sources said Shil had been locked in a long-standing disagreement with his neighbour, Abed Ali’s family over the demarcation of their land. Police later arrested Ashraf Ali, identified as the main accused, while others allegedly involved have yet to be detained. Rajarhat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Wadud said a case was being prepared and assured that all those responsible would be brought under the law. Rights activists and local residents say the incident cannot be viewed in isolation, as it adds to a pattern of violence disproportionately affecting minority communities.

Land disputes involving Hindu families, often economically and politically weaker, frequently turn violent, with victims’ families alleging delayed justice and inadequate protection. The killing has renewed criticism of law enforcement and administrative authorities for failing to prevent such disputes from escalating and for not ensuring timely intervention in areas where minorities remain vulnerable.