Three Hindu temples in Bangladesh’s Chattogram fell victim to vandalism on Friday as a mob of several hundred people, shouting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans, attacked the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple.
The attack occurred at around 2:30 pm in the city’s Harish Chandra Munsef Lane.
The mob, reportedly emerging from a procession after Juma prayers, hurled brickbats at the temples, damaging the Shoni Temple and the gates of the other two.
Kotwali Police Station chief Abdul Karim confirmed the incident, stating that an attempt was made to damage the temples.
However, police assessed the destruction as minimal, reporting that both the mob and temple supporters threw projectiles during the confrontation.
Tapan Das, a permanent member of the Shantaneshwari Temple management committee, said, “A procession of hundreds arrived after the Juma prayers. They started shouting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans. We did not obstruct the attackers. When the situation worsened, we called the army, who arrived quickly and helped restore order. All the temple gates were closed before noon. The miscreants arrived unprovoked and carried out the attack.”
The vandalism comes in the wake of heightened tensions following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spiritual leader and former member of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh.
Sedition case triggers protests
Das was arrested on Monday in connection with a sedition case filed on 30 October. The charges stem from allegations of disrespecting the Bangladeshi national flag during a Hindu community rally in Chattogram’s New Market area.
His bail application was denied on Tuesday, sparking protests by the Hindu community in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other regions.
India has expressed grave concern over the developments.
On Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament, “India has taken serious note of incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and that it is the primary responsibility of Dhaka to protect the life and liberty of all the citizens, including minorities.”
Jaishankar also criticised the “surge” of extremist rhetoric and rising violence targeting Hindus and temples in Bangladesh, urging the interim government to ensure minority protection.
Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi government has raised concerns over a protest at its Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, urging New Delhi to secure its diplomatic missions.
This week’s anti-Hindu violence and the arrest of a spiritual leader have further strained India-Bangladesh relations, adding to the growing disquiet in the region.
Despite the damage being described as “minimal,” the targeting of Hindu temples highlights the fragile state of communal harmony in Bangladesh.
Authorities have deployed additional security forces to prevent further unrest.
Follow us
