Hindu temples in Bangladesh under attack: 8 idols destroyed across 3 temples in shocking act of violence!

Dhaka (The Uttam Hindu):Bangladesh has seen a disturbing rise in attacks on its Hindu minority, with recent incidents of idol vandalism reported in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts. The violence has escalated since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. India has expressed deep concerns, urging the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to ensure the protection of minorities. These incidents reflect the growing communal tensions in Bangladesh, impacting its relationship with India. Over the past week, miscreants vandalized eight idols across three Hindu temples in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts. In Mymensingh’s Haluaghat sub-district, idols at the Bonderpara Temple in Shakuai union and Polashkanda Kali Temple in Beeldora union were damaged on Thursday and Friday.

Abul Khayer, Officer-in-Charge of Haluaghat Police Station, confirmed the incidents, stating, “On Thursday night, miscreants broke the heads of two idols under construction at a temple in the Shakuair area.” In a separate incident, five idols at the Jharbari Shashan Kali Temple in Dinajpur’s Birganj sub-district were vandalized earlier in the week, and the damage was discovered on Thursday. Temple committee president Janardan Roy expressed shock, saying, “We’ve never seen such an act here,” emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the attack. Arrests and ongoing investigations Police have arrested two individuals in connection with these incidents. In Mymensingh, 27-year-old Alal Uddin admitted to vandalizing the idol at Polashkanda Kali Temple and was remanded to custody after a court appearance. Another suspect, 37-year-old Azharul, was arrested for damaging idols at the Shakuair temple. Both cases are under investigation.

In other recent incidents, law enforcement arrested four individuals in Sunamganj district for vandalizing Hindu properties. On November 29, three temples in Chattogram were targeted by a mob shouting slogans amid ongoing protests linked to sedition charges against Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of ISKCON. These attacks are part of a broader pattern of escalating violence against minorities in Bangladesh. According to Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, “2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh were reported till December 8, 2024, and 112 cases in Pakistan were reported till October 2024.”

Since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024 following student-led protests, Bangladesh has experienced increased communal tensions. The protests, which began in June with demands for reforms to the government job quota system, quickly escalated into a movement that led to over 600 deaths. After Hasina's removal, she fled to India, and an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus took charge. The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on November 25 at Dhaka Airport on sedition charges has further sparked global protests. Das, a former ISKCON member and now a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote organization, has become a symbol of dissent.

India’s Diplomatic Concerns India has raised strong objections to the growing violence, with the government expressing serious concern. “The government has taken serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh. India expects that the Government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Hindus and other minorities,” said Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also addressed the issue during discussions with Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka, calling the attacks “regrettable” and emphasizing the need for measures to protect minority communities. Strained India-Bangladesh Relations The ongoing violence has strained the historically cooperative relationship between India and Bangladesh. Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, bilateral ties were strong, with collaboration on trade, security, and minority rights. However, since the transition to Yunus’s interim administration, India has raised repeated concerns about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. The situation has further deteriorated with Bangladeshi authorities acknowledging 88 cases of violence against minorities since August. These incidents include attacks on Hindu temples, arrests of minority leaders, and mob violence.