House of Hindu Teacher Set Ablaze in Sylhet, Deepening Fears Among Minorities in Bangladesh
The home of a hindu teacher Birendra Kumar Dey, widely known as Jhunu sir, located in Gowainghat area of Sylhet, was set on fire, causing fear and distress among the local minority community.
Sylhet: As violence against minorities continues in Bangladesh, the home of a Hindu schoolteacher in Sylhet’s Gowainghat area was deliberately set on fire.
A group of people attacked and set fire to the home of a Hindu schoolteacher, Birendra Kumar Dey, widely known as Jhunu sir. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local minority community, raising fresh concerns about safety and law enforcement response.
What happened in Sylhet?
According to residents, a crowd entered the teacher's house late a night. They damaged property, broke into the house and then locked the doors from the outside before setting it on fire. Several tin-roofed houses were destroyed, and belongings inside were burned to ash.
Neighbours say people in the teacher’s family ran for their lives into nearby fields. Women, men and children were left terrified as flames spread.
Flames gutted much of the wooden structure before neighbours and local volunteers could bring the blaze under control. Police say no one was injured, but the teacher’s family has lost most of their belongings. Initial inquiries have begun, but authorities have not yet identified any suspects.
Hindu homes burnt in Bangladesh.
— Dr. Sankar Kr. Guchhait (@DrGuchhait) January 16, 2026
Hindu families targeted in Murshidabad.
Different borders. Same hatred. Same silence.
History is warning us loudly.
This is not “sporadic violence.”
This is systematic persecution.
What Bangladesh is witnessing today is a preview of where… pic.twitter.com/QPsT307JMg
Why is this incident drawing attention?
The attack comes amid a troubling run of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. This year alone, rights groups and media reports show a spike in attacks on Hindu homes and individuals, including at least 15 murders of Hindus in just over six weeks, according to a recent report.
Many minority residents say they feel unsafe and abandoned. In Sylhet, neighbours described growing fear among Hindu families after repeated incidents of arson and threats.
Are these attacks isolated or part of a trend?
Over the past year, there have been numerous reports of mobs attacking minority families, looting homes, and vandalising property in different districts of Bangladesh. Some episodes were triggered by social media posts that allegedly offended religious sentiments, leading to communal clashes.
Rights groups have condemned these acts as violations of basic human rights and have called for swift legal action against attackers.
