Bhabesh death: India's knee-jerk reaction proves wrong
In a case filed four days after his death, it was stated that Bhabesh had been taken to an unknown location and beaten to death. Police, however, say the inquest report did not find any signs of injury or assault on Bhabesh’s body
A cloud of mystery has formed around the death of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 55, in Biral upazila of Dinajpur.
In a case filed four days after his death, it was stated that Bhabesh had been taken to an unknown location and beaten to death. Police, however, say the inquest report did not find any signs of injury or assault on Bhabesh's body.
Bhabesh Chandra Roy was a resident of Basudebpur village in Shahargram union of Biral upazila. He was a farmer by profession and also served as the vice president of the local puja celebration committee.
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According to his family, last Thursday at around 5pm, four men – including two locals named Ratan and Atik – arrived at Bhabesh's house on two motorcycles. They asked him to accompany them to Phulbari market, about a kilometre away.
At around 8pm, Ratan called Bhabesh's son Swapan from Narabari market and informed him that his father had suddenly fallen ill. When relatives brought Bhabesh to hospital, the on-duty doctor declared him dead.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Bhabesh's death have now gained attention beyond the local area, even drawing Indian media coverage.
India condemned the killing of prominent Hindu community leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy in Bangladesh.
India's Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said on the ministry's verified X page (@MEAIndia) that the killing of Hindu leader follows "a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government in Bangladesh."
"We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity," Randhir wrote on X.
In response, claiming that the interim government protects the rights of all citizens irrespective of their religions, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam dismissed the claim of India over the death of Bhabesh Chandra Roy in Dinajpur.
"It is unfortunate that the death of Mr Bhabesh Chandra Roy has been described as part of a 'pattern of systematic persecution' of Hindu minorities under the interim government," he told BSS responding to a query on the comments of India's External Affairs Ministry about the death of Bhabesh Chandra Roy.
Shafiqul Alam, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, said: "We reject this baseless claim."
The family has never claimed that he was beaten to death, but his wife Santona Rani believes the death was abnormal.
What happened that day
Local shopkeepers in Phulbari market near Bhabesh's home described him as a kind and friendly man. Once a landowner, Bhabesh became nearly penniless.
Despite a significant age gap, Bhabesh had a close relationship with local youths Ratan and Atik. Last Thursday, at around 6:45pm, Bhabesh, Ratan, Atik, and others had tea at a shop owned by Ohidul at Narabari.
The shop owner told The Business Standard, "Bhabesh and a few others had tea here that evening. He seemed completely normal. After tea, they went to the next shop for paan [betel leaf] and cigarettes."
Betel leaf shop owner Motibur Rahman said, "While chewing paan, Bhabesh leaned against a pillar. He seemed to get dizzy and sat down. Those with him and a few locals helped take him to a local doctor."
The village doctor, Liton, checked Bhabesh's blood pressure and advised taking him to a hospital. Bhabesh was then taken on a van from Narabari market.
Van driver Saddam Hossain told TBS over the phone, "Two people were on the van; two followed on motorcycles. Bhabesh's pressure was also checked at Dr Rahman's chamber on the edge of the market. He too advised taking him to a hospital.
"During this time, one of the companions called Bhabesh's son and informed him about the illness. Swapan later told them to leave his father at home. Eventually, Bhabesh was taken to Phulbari market, where his blood pressure was checked again. They then asked his son to send an ambulance. Around 8:30pm, the ambulance arrived, and the family was also present."
Swapan reached Dinajpur Medical College Hospital with his father around 9:20pm. "I first took him to the third floor, where doctors did an ECG and declared him dead. After receiving the death certificate, we returned home," he said.
At 11:45 that night, a local named Afsar Hossain informed the Biral police about Bhabesh's death.
Officer-in-Charge of Biral Police Station, Abdus Sabur, said to the media, "We were informed by phone that someone was killed by poisoning in Basudebpur. We visited the house at 12:30am and conducted an inquest. No signs of injury were found. As suspicions had arisen, we sent the body for post-mortem."
The autopsy was conducted the next day, Friday, at 5:30pm by Dr Mainuddin of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital.
The doctor told journalists, "We can't say anything conclusively until the viscera report comes."
Atik and Ratan in hiding
After national and international media reports, a tense atmosphere has developed in the area. Atik and Ratan have gone into hiding. Atik is the Union Swechhasebak Dal's secretary, and Ratan is the joint organising secretary of the local BNP unit.
Local sources said both were involved in money lending business. Since the July coup, they and their associates have also been running a drug syndicate in the area.
Case filed over Bhabesh's death
Almost four days after Bhabesh's death, his son Swapan filed a case with Biral Police Station. Four individuals were named, along with several unnamed others. The accused are: Atikur Rahman, 40, Ratan Islam, 30, Munna Islam, 27, and Md Rubel, 28.
According to the case statement, the accused were close to Bhabesh and frequently visited his home. Bhabesh had borrowed Tk25,000 from Atik and was paying Tk3,250 monthly in interest. Due to financial hardship, he had been unable to repay the loan for the past year.
In the statement of the case, Swapan Chandra mentioned, "The accused took my father to an unknown location, and beat him to death in a premeditated manner."
When asked, Anwar Hossain, additional superintendent of police (Crime) in Dinajpur, confirmed that a case had been filed under Sections 302/34. He said Dinajpur police are treating the case with seriousness and continuing their investigation.
