“Do I Shoot You?”: Bangladeshi Hindu Man Killed by Colleague in Factory Shooting

A Bangladeshi Hindu man was allegedly shot dead by his colleague after being asked, “Do I shoot you?”, in an incident that police say may have resulted from a prank gone wrong, though all possibilities are being investigated.

The victim, Bajendra Biswas, and the accused, Noman Mia, were both members of the Ansar Bahini and were deployed as security guards at a garment factory in Bhaluka.

The incident occurred on Monday evening at Sultana Sweaters Limited, a garment unit in the Mehrabari area. According to eyewitness accounts cited by Bangladeshi media, the two men were sitting together when Noman Mia allegedly placed a shotgun against Biswas’s thigh, asked him the question in a seemingly joking manner, and then fired.

Biswas sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a local health facility, where he was declared dead on arrival. Police said there was no immediate evidence of any prior dispute or animosity between the two men.

A fellow Ansar Bahini member present at the scene told investigators that the shooting appeared sudden and unprovoked, with no argument preceding the incident. The accused was arrested immediately after the shooting and has claimed that the firearm discharged accidentally during a joke. Another colleague reportedly corroborated this version.

However, police officials said they are not ruling out other motives. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to determine whether the shooting was accidental or involved any underlying factors. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

The killing has drawn heightened attention as it comes amid growing concern over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, another Hindu worker was lynched in the same Bhaluka region over blasphemy allegations, followed by another fatal assault on a Hindu man in a nearby area.

While police have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, the incident has added to public scrutiny over violence involving minorities in Bangladesh, with rights groups and community leaders calling for transparent investigations and accountability.