Dhaka: In a tragic incident in Chattogram, Bangladesh, three Hindu temples were vandalized by a mob during ongoing protests and unrest in the area. The attack took place around 2:30 PM on Friday in the Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, targeting the Santaneshwar Matri Temple, the Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple.
Reports from BDNews24.com indicate that several hundred individuals, after attending Friday prayers, gathered at the temples, hurling bricks and causing damage to the Shoni Temple and the gates of the other two temples. The temple authorities confirmed the vandalism, noting broken gates and other damaged structures.
Abdul Karim, the chief of Kotwali Police Station, confirmed that the assailants aimed to deliberately damage the temples. Tapan Das, a member of the Santaneshwar Matri Temple management committee, described the attackers chanting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans as they approached in large numbers.
The unrest in Chattogram has intensified following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who was detained for allegedly disrespecting the national flag. This incident has heightened tensions in the region.
Das mentioned that the temple authorities did not confront the attackers during the assault and instead called for military assistance as the situation escalated. The Army responded quickly, helping to restore order. Although the temple gates were secured before the mob’s arrival, significant damage had already occurred. Reports suggest that the attack seemed unprovoked, with minimal resistance from the temple staff.
This incident has raised serious alarm about the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.