Concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh have resurfaced following the mysterious death of 27-year-old Hindu youth Badhan Taran in Narsingdi prison. The incident has sparked outrage among local communities and human rights advocates, who allege that Hindus in Bangladesh continue to face targeted violence, including assaults, torture, and killings, in an effort to establish a radical Islamist agenda.

Badhan Taran, the son of Shankar Taran of Paschim Kandapara Seva Sangha area in Narsingdi city, reportedly died under suspicious circumstances late Thursday night, January 22. According to his family, Badhan’s death was not natural, but the result of systematic torture while in custody. The Narsingdi prison authorities, however, maintain that Badhan died of natural causes.

Blitz’s investigation revealed that Badhan died in prison around 10:00 pm and was subsequently taken to Narsingdi District Hospital at approximately 11:00 pm. The attending doctor declared him dead upon arrival. Despite the prison authorities’ insistence that the death was due to illness, Badhan’s family has strongly rejected this claim, asserting that his death was deliberate and premeditated.

Anti Taran, Badhan’s wife, told the Blitz investigative team that she had visited her husband in prison just two days before his death and found him in good health. “Two days before his death, I went to see Badhan, and he was completely healthy and normal. Discussions about his bail were ongoing, and he seemed well. But on Thursday night, the prison authorities called and said he was sick,” she said.

When Anti visited the district hospital, she discovered that her husband had been brought in dead at 11:30 pm, approximately 40 minutes before the hospital had been notified. She alleged that the injuries on his body indicated severe torture. “His hands were broken, there were bruises on both ears, and his legs were bandaged. His eyes were bloodshot. The hospital doctor confirmed that he had died at least an hour before he was brought to the hospital,” she said.

Anti further emphasized that the marks and bandages on Badhan’s body could not have resulted from natural causes and strongly demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into his death. She also called for the punishment of those responsible for what she described as a planned murder.

Local residents in Paschim Kandapara, Narsingdi, expressed outrage and concern over Badhan’s death. Community members have described the incident as suspicious and have demanded intervention from higher administrative authorities to ensure justice and prevent further violence.

The Narsingdi District Jail in-charge, Humayun Kabir, dismissed the family’s allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated propaganda. “The statements being made by the family are without merit,” Kabir said. “Badhan Taran’s death was natural, and the actual cause will be confirmed after the autopsy report is completed.” When asked about the reported injury marks and bandages, Kabir did not provide any explanation.

This is not the first incident of a Hindu or political prisoner dying under mysterious circumstances in Bangladesh. On January 11, allegations surfaced regarding the death of renowned musician Prolay Chaki in Pabna District Jail, with family members claiming that he had been tortured before his death. Prison authorities, however, denied any wrongdoing and reported the death as natural.

During the one and a half year rule of the Yunus government, more than fifty Awami League leaders reportedly died in prison. In nearly all cases, the authorities attributed these deaths to natural causes, such as heart attacks, but the families of the deceased alleged that the deaths were the result of systematic torture. Human rights organizations have raised concerns that these recurring patterns of deaths, particularly among Hindus and political prisoners, may indicate a deliberate strategy of persecution.

Human rights advocates argue that targeted violence against Hindus in Bangladesh is part of a broader trend of minority suppression. Some claim that these incidents aim to create fear and consolidate radical Islamist influence in the country. The sudden deaths of young individuals like Badhan Taran and high-profile figures like Prolay Chaki have reignited fears among the Hindu community and intensified calls for transparency and accountability in Bangladesh’s prison system.

Civil society groups have urged the government to allow independent investigations into all suspicious deaths in custody, emphasizing the need for judicial oversight and immediate reforms to prevent abuse and torture in prisons. “Families of victims have the right to know the truth. Repeated claims of natural deaths without proper investigation erode public trust and raise serious questions about human rights practices in Bangladesh,” said a spokesperson for a local human rights organization.

As the investigation into Badhan Taran’s death continues, his family and community members remain steadfast in their demand for justice. Meanwhile, national and international observers are closely monitoring the case, highlighting the urgent need for reforms in Bangladesh’s prison system and protection of minority rights.

Badhan Taran’s death has thus become emblematic of a broader concern over the treatment of religious minorities and political prisoners in Bangladesh. While official reports continue to cite natural causes, families and human rights advocates argue that only an independent investigation can provide clarity and ensure accountability for what they fear may be a recurring pattern of targeted violence.

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel