Chief Adviser's Press Wing on Sunday refuted false claim of murder of a Hindu businessman for refusing to pay "Jizya tax".
"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," the press wing said in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page - CA Press Wing Facts.
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 Taka 70,000 as Jizya from Hindu businessman Bikash Chandra Das and killed him when he refused to pay, according to the press wing.
"These claims were widely shared with sensationalised language, suggesting systemic religious oppression under Bangladesh's current government," the statement read.
However, verified reports from multiple Bangladeshi news outlets and police investigations confirmed 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 and others provided clear evidence that the altercation was financial and interpersonal in nature. The viral "Jizya" narrative has no basis in reality.
"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," the statement said.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
