Hindu Petrol Pump Worker Crushed to Death in Bangladesh While Stopping Vehicle Over Unpaid Fuel

A Hindu fuel station worker in Bangladesh was run over and killed in the early hours of Friday after he demanded payment from a vehicle that attempted to leave a petrol pump without paying.

The incident has triggered outrage and renewed concern over the safety of religious minorities in the country.

Fatal Incident at Rajbari Fuel Station

The victim, identified as 30-year-old Ripon Saha, was on duty at Karim Filling Station in Goalanda Mor when a black SUV refuelled and allegedly tried to leave without settling the bill. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred around 4:30 am.

Saha reportedly stood in front of the vehicle to stop it from fleeing. Instead of paying, the driver ran the SUV over him and escaped from the spot, killing the fuel station worker instantly. The fuel taken was worth around Rs 3,710.

Police Action and Arrests

Confirming the incident, Rajbari Sadar Police chief Khondakar Ziaur Rahman said strict action would follow.
"We will file a murder case. The worker stood in front of the car after they refused to pay for fuel, and they ran him over before fleeing," he told news portal bdnews24.com.

Police later traced and seized the vehicle involved in the incident. The owner of the SUV, Abul Hashem alias Sujan, 55, along with the driver Kamal Hossain, 43, were arrested. Hashem is a former treasurer of the Rajbari district Bangladesh Nationalist Party and also served as president of the district Jubo Dal. He currently works as a contractor, police officials said.

Minority Safety Under Scrutiny

The killing of Ripon Saha comes amid growing concerns over repeated attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. According to the 2022 census, Hindus number around 13.13 million in the country, making up nearly 7.95 per cent of the population.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has expressed serious concern over what it describes as a surge in violence against minority communities. The organisation alleged that communal attacks have intensified as the country moves closer to general elections, with the aim of discouraging minority voters from exercising their democratic rights.

Growing Domestic and International Concern

The Unity Council said it recorded 51 incidents of communal violence in December 2025 alone, highlighting what it called a disturbing trend.

India has also raised the issue at diplomatic levels, criticising Bangladesh for the treatment of minorities, particularly Hindus. New Delhi has warned against attempts to portray attacks on minorities as isolated personal disputes or unrelated incidents, stating that such narratives risk emboldening extremist elements within Bangladesh.