April 2026 | Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Bangladesh: A Hindu temple caretaker identified as Nayan Das, also known as Nayan Sadhu, was found dead in a forested hill area of Khurushkul in Cox’s Bazar on April 22, three days after he went missing from his home. Das had last been seen on the night of April 19, when family members say he was called out of his home by two unidentified individuals and never returned. Authorities have yet to officially determine whether his death was a murder or suicide, and the body has been sent for autopsy as police investigate the circumstances.
Family members have firmly alleged foul play, stating that Das was lured out of the house under unclear pretences before disappearing. Rights groups have criticised what they describe as repeated delays and a lack of transparency in investigations involving minority victims in Bangladesh. The incident has intensified longstanding concerns over the safety and security of Hindu and other minority communities across the country.
The recovery of Das’s body has sparked protests in Dhaka, with demonstrators calling for swift justice and stronger legal protections for religious minorities in Bangladesh. Minority advocacy groups have demanded stern action against those responsible and urged the interim government to treat the case as a priority. The incident is the latest in a series of reported attacks and suspicious deaths involving members of the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh in recent years.
