Christians protest in Gazipur after a Christian man is abducted and murdered

Sabuj Bernard Gosal went missing on 28 September. Although police were alerted, his dismembered body was found a few days later. A Muslim man who had worked in the factory that employed the victim was arrested in connection with the crime. More than a hundred  Christians rallied yesterday demanding protection for religious minorities.

Gazipur (AsiaNews) – Sabuj Bernard Gosal disappeared on 28 September. The 35-year-old Catholic man worked at Purbachal Apparel, a clothing factory located in Panjora, Nagari parish.

When he did not return home from work, his family reported his disappearance to police. The day after, they received a ransom note of 1.5 million taka (almost US$ 15,000).

As few days later, his dismembered body was found in a pond while six pieces were recovered near the factory where he worked.

Yesterday more than a hundred Christians staged a protest over Sabuj’s murder. “We never saw such kind of heinous killing,” said Fr Joyanto Sylvester Gomes, pastor at Nagari Parish. “We want exemplary punishment for killers,” he added.

Police arrested Mohammad Sahin, a Muslim man and a former employee of the company; his wife still works at the factory.

Sabuj's father, Amollo Rozario Gosal, told the media that had the police taken immediate action his son would still be alive.

“We reported to the police after we received a call from the kidnapper, but they didn't do anything concrete; that's why we lost our son.”

In his view, police registered the case only under pressure from Christian leaders. At the Kaliganj police station (Gazipur), Additional Police Superintendent Farjana Yesmin disagrees.

“We are carrying out the investigation. All culprits will be arrested and punished,” she said. “The police is not negligent in the matter. We have already arrested Sahin who is the main culprit. The rest will be arrested soon."

Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country. Christians and members of other religious minorities are often persecuted.

• bangladesh
• gazipur
• panjora
• nagari
• catholic man
• abduction
• killing
• dismemberment
• purbachal apparel
• sabuj bernard gosal