India today wrote to the interim government of Bangladesh expressing “serious concern” over several attacks on temples, religious places and puja mandaps or pandals. The attacks included incidents of desecration, vandalism, robbery and disfigurement.
New Delhi, which is keenly following the way events are unfolding in Bangladesh following the political crisis in the neighboring country, said there has been a systemic pattern in these attacks.
Terming the recent attacks as “reprehensible”, the Ministry of External Affairs today said, “We note with grave concern the attack on a puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and the theft at the iconic Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in Satkhira.”
The attacks “follow a systematic pattern of desecration and damage to temples and deities, which we have witnessed over the past several days,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Our statement on the attack on puja temple and desecration and damage to Hindu temples in Bangladesh: pic.twitter.com/Ty746nPn5c
– Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) 12 October 2024
New Delhi urged Dhaka, saying, ‘We call on the Government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship, especially during this auspicious festival time.’
Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo reported that a “crude bomb was thrown” at a Durga Puja pandal in the Tantibazar area of Dhaka’s old city. The report further said that the incident took place on Friday and although a fire broke out after a crude bomb was thrown, there were no casualties.
In another incident of theft at the famous Jeshoreshwari Kali temple, a hand-crafted ‘mukut’ (crown) made of gold-plated silver, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed on the idol of Goddess Maa Kali during his visit to the temple in 2021, was stolen. Had kept. Was Stolen.
We have seen reports of theft of the crown gifted by PM Modi at Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple (Satkhira) during his visit in 2021.
We express deep concern and urge the Government of Bangladesh to investigate the theft, recover the crown, and take action against the perpetrators@MEAIndia @BDMOFA
– India in Bangladesh (@ihcdhaka) 11 October 2024
Durga Puja is celebrated mainly by Bengali Hindus and coincides with the Hindu festival of Navratri. This festival lasts for 9 days and nights hence it is named “Nav Ratri”. It culminates with the festival of Dussehra or Vijayadashami on the tenth day.
Religious freedom in Bangladesh has come under attack under the country’s leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus after politically motivated protests ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mr. Yunus is currently the Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
However, Mr Yunus in recent days has called these attacks not “communal” but “politically motivated”. In an interview with the Press Trust of India last month, Mr Yunus had claimed that the attacks were not communal but were the result of political turmoil because of the perception that most Hindus supported the now ousted Awami League regime, which Sheikh was leading. Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh.
He said, “I have also told (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi that this is exaggerated. There are many dimensions to this issue. When the country was in turmoil following the atrocities of (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them faced attacks,” the Nobel Peace Prize laureate had said.
