Temples and idols have come under repeated attack in several districts of Bangladesh in the days leading up to Durga Puja, raising fresh concern among minority Hindu groups. Community leaders have urged the authorities to ensure protection of religious minorities and their places of worship throughout the year instead of restricting security arrangements to the five days of the annual festival.
At a press conference in Dhaka, Hindu leaders said incidents of vandalism had already been reported from 13 districts across the country. The attacks took place even as preparations continued for Durga Puja, which will be celebrated nationwide from September 28 to October 2.
The community has pointed to a rise in violence against temples and minorities since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed power in August 2024.
“If we want to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh, we should not only think about security for five days of Puja, we have to think about security for all 365 days,” The Daily Star quoted Jayanta Kumar Deb, president of Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee, as saying. He also appealed for the withdrawal of what he described as false and baseless cases against minority leaders and innocent people.
Basudev Dhar, president of the Puja Udjapan Parishad, said many Hindus had been implicated in fabricated cases and called on the interim government to allow them to participate in the festival. Subrata Chowdhury, advisor of the Parishad, demanded that those responsible for vandalising idols and temples should be punished under law.
In recent days, local media have reported several such incidents. At the Shwarupdah Palpara Sri Sri Rakhha Kali Temple in Kushtia district, idols were damaged and security equipment was stolen. In Jamalpur district, seven idols were vandalised at a temple in Sarishabari upazila.
The Awami League has also condemned the attacks, holding the Yunus regime responsible. “Since this illegitimate group seized state power, killings have been carried out against Hindus and other minority communities,” the party said. It alleged that the interim government had rendered Bangladesh unsafe for people of all faiths and beliefs.
