MD Ashik 🇧🇩

Recently, a false narrative has been circulating online, claiming that a Hindu businessman in Bangladesh was murdered by Islamic extremists for refusing to pay "Jizya tax." This false claim which took place in 2023 during Sheikh Hasina’s regime, now amplified on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), attempts to frame the killing as part of a broader pattern of religious persecution against Hindus in Bangladesh. The posts allege that in Chandina, Cumilla, a man named Mohammad Imran—described as a fundamentalist—demanded 70,000 BDT as Jizya from Hindu businessman Bikash Chandra Das and killed him when he refused to pay. These claims were widely shared with sensationalized language, suggesting systemic religious oppression under Bangladesh’s current government. See the claims: archive.ph/ytJiN archive.ph/moZ2s However, verified reports from multiple Bangladeshi news outlets and police investigations confirm that the incident had no connection to religious extremism or Jizya tax. Instead, it was a tragic case of personal dispute-related violence back in 2023. According to reports from Jugantor and other reputable sources, the events took place on June 6, 2023, in Chandina, Cumilla. The dispute began over a pickup truck rental. The actual accused, 28-year-old Azizul Islam Aju, attacked Das after he was denied access to the vehicle. Das later died from his injuries while receiving treatment at a hospital. Police arrested Aju on June 28, 2023. Investigators confirmed that this was a straightforward homicide—driven by a personal dispute, not religious motives. Reports from Jugantor (Archive: archive.ph/GK8Ui) and others provide clear evidence that the altercation was financial and interpersonal in nature. The viral “Jizya” narrative has no basis in reality. News sources for reference: archive.ph/GK8Ui archive.ph/W8Z02 This incident had nothing to do with religious hatred, extremism, or persecution. It’s yet another example of how misinformation, when left unchecked, can twist facts and deepen divides.