Dhaka: The attacks on minorities in Bangladesh continued today with unidentified assailants targeting a Hindu priest in Satkhira Sadar Upazila of the country.
According to reports, the victim has been identified as Bhabasindhu Bor, priest of local Sree Radha Govinda temple in Brahmarajpur village.
The attackers, believed to be 7-8 in numbers, have fled the crime scene, police said, adding that the priest was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital and is said to be in a critical condition.
The attack on Saturday is the second in the last two days. Yesterday, another Hindu priest named Shymanondo Das was hacked to death by three unidentified machete-wielding assailants country’s Jhenaidah.
Since 2013, Bangladesh has witnessed a spate of attacks by Islamist extremists against minorities, prompting the police to launch an extensive operation last month, in which they arrested 11,600 people, including 193 alleged extremists.
Over 40 people have been killed in these sectarian attacks, including Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, followers of Islamic sects not affiliated to the more orthodox Sunni sect, foreigners, gay activists and thinkers and secular bloggers critical of Islamic fundamentalism.
Many of these attacks have been claimed by militant group Islamic State.