Rajbari, Bangladesh: A Hindu fuel station worker was crushed to death in Bangladesh after he tried to stop a vehicle from leaving a petrol pump without paying, police said, sparking fresh concerns amid reports of rising violence against minorities in the country.

The victim, identified as Ripon Saha (30), was working at Karim Filling Station in Rajbari district when the incident occurred around 4:30 am on Friday, according to local media reports and police officials.

Police said a black SUV arrived at the station, took fuel worth around Tk 5,000, and attempted to flee without payment. When Saha blocked the vehicle to stop it, the driver allegedly ran him over and sped away, killing him on the spot.

“We will file a murder case. The worker stood in front of the car after they refused to pay for fuel, and they ran him over before fleeing,” Rajbari Sadar Police chief Khondakar Ziaur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Another worker, Jakir Hossain, reportedly chased the vehicle and later found Saha’s body on the highway with severe head and facial injuries.

Police later seized the SUV and arrested its owner, Abul Hashem alias Sujan (55), and the driver, Kamal Hossain (43). Hashem is a contractor and a former local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Investigators said they are determining who was driving at the time of the incident.

Incident amid concerns over violence against Hindus in Bangladesh

Authorities said it is not yet confirmed whether the killing is linked to the recent spate of violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh. However, minority rights groups have raised alarm over growing attacks ahead of the February 12 general elections.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) earlier said communal violence has been rising sharply, claiming 51 incidents were recorded in December 2025 alone, allegedly aimed at intimidating minority voters.

In recent weeks, several violent incidents involving members of the Hindu community have been reported across Bangladesh, including lynchings, shootings, and fatal assaults.

According to the 2022 census, Bangladesh has around 13.13 million Hindus, accounting for nearly 8% of the population.