Dhaka, Bangladesh: Hindu community leaders in Bangladesh have urged the interim government to ensure round-the-year security for religious minorities and their places of worship, instead of restricting protection to the five-day Durga Puja festival.
Attacks Reported Ahead of Durga Puja
At a press conference in Dhaka, leaders highlighted that temple and idol vandalism incidents were already reported from 13 districts ahead of Durga Puja, which will be celebrated nationwide from September 28 to October 2.
These attacks come amid a worrying rise in violence targeting Hindu minorities since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took charge in August 2024.
“Security Must Be 365 Days”
“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,” said Jayanta Kumar Deb, President of Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee, as quoted by The Daily Star.
He also demanded the withdrawal of false and baseless cases filed against minority leaders and innocent people.
Call for Justice and Inclusion
Basudev Dhar, President of the Puja Udjapan Parishad, said fabricated cases have prevented many Hindus from participating in Puja celebrations and called on the government to act immediately.
Meanwhile, advisor Subrata Chowdhury stressed that those involved in idol vandalism and temple attacks must be punished under the law.
Recent Incidents of Vandalism
Just last week, miscreants vandalised idols and stole security equipment at the Shwarupdah Palpara Sri Sri Rakhha Kali Temple in Kushtia district’s Mirpur upazila, according to local media reports.