In neighbouring Bangladesh, massive anti-Hindu violence has been continuing for many days. The Muslim mob had targeted the Durga pooja pandals all over the Islamic country and Hindus are apprehensive that they might be attacked during festival of lights
With Deepawali round the corner, Hindus in Bangladesh are fearful that their lives and even temples would be on the radar of Islamists. This is quite disturbing but the reality indicates how Muslim fundamentalists have been humiliating Hindus by vandalising their idols and even taking away lives of believers of Sanatan Dharma.
Unfortunately, the Islamic nation of Bangladesh is vehemently intolerant and follows a policy of religious persecution against minority communities, primarily Hindus and Buddhists. Extremism and radicalisation drive the vehicle of persecution in Bangladesh. The Hindus in particular face gruesome behaviour from authorities as well as from the masses. Temple destruction is their prime target.
One such case study is that of recent attacks during the celebration of Durga Puja. The Durga Puja and Navratri are festivals which are central to the Hindu denomination called “Shaktism”. Many Bengali Hindus in West Bengal and Bangladesh are “Shaktas” or followers of Devi. This is because the majority of the Shakti-Peethas are located in Bengal and some in Bangladesh. These festivals are celebrated on an enormous scale by the Hindus.
Till June 30, 2022, 79 Hindus have been killed by Muslims in Bangladesh as per the information given by ‘Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote (Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance)’ during a press conference held at Nasrul Hamid Hall. General Secretary Govinda Chandra Pramanik of this organisation claimed that 620 people, other than the killed, were also threatened with life; attempts were made to kill 145 and173 were injured and 32 were missing. From January 1sr to June 30, 2022, property belonging to Hindus worth Rs 26 crore was looted, including the property of 157 Hindu families and temples.
On October 2, 2022, a man was arrested while keeping the “Quran Sharif” in a Durga Puja mandap in Bangladesh. He was caught by the temple management and locals. A similar incident occurred last year, when violent attacks were carried out against Hindus during the Durga Puja Festival. These included vandalism, killings, rapes and attack on temples.
On October 13, 2021, some miscreants led by Iqbal Hossein entered the Nanuar Dighir Par Durga Mandir in the Cumila district. These rogues had placed a copy of the Quran on the feet of Bhagwan Hanuman. Within hours, this news spread like wildfire on social media. Many places were targeted by the miscreants which included: Cox Bazaar (where three religious sites and 21 homes were damaged.) Ten religious sites were damaged in Maulvi Bazaar. Seventeen religious sites were attacked in Cumila, and 16 sites were vandalised in Chandpur.
In Kurigram, nine religious places and 17 homes were destroyed. Twenty four more places were attacked in Noakhali and Chattogram (Chittagong). The former two locations witnessed violence on October 14 and 15, 2021. Religious places such as Munshiganj, Feni and Rangpur were torched.
The continuous attacks on the Hindu community, their religion, culture and livelihood have gravely impacted the relations between India and Bangladesh. The Indian and Bangladeshi security forces must curb terrorist organisations and Islamic extremism that is rampant in Bangladesh via counter-terrorist operations
According to the Statistics compiled by a human rights outfit called Legal and Reconciliation Center, a total of 3,679 Hindus were attacked during the last nine years. Of these, 1,559 Hindu homes were destroyed, 442 Hindu businesses were vandalised and 1,678 idols in Hindu temples were desecrated. Eight hundred and sixty two Hindus were grievously injured and many were killed.
Thousands of Hindus Abandoned Their Homes
In 2021 alone, around 301 Hindus were killed. Various armed gangs engaged with the Hindus 1,898 times. The butchery did not stop there – rapes, kidnapping and forceful consumption of beef under pressure from Islamic radicals were done to humiliate Hindus and make them embrace Islam. Nine thousand Hindus were forced to leave the country. Two thousand one hundred and thirty idols of Hindu deities were destroyed, and 2,400 temples were attacked. A total of more than 1,35,000 households, temples and businesses were severely affected in 2021.
Four puja pandals were destroyed by miscreants in Kashempur, three temples were targeted in Gazipur. Seven more temples were destroyed in Lakshmipur. Nine sites were vandalised in Kurigram. Six Puja Pandals were attacked in Sylhet (known for its silk and textiles). Nearly 200 Hindu families were looted and attacked in the four unions of Chakaria and Pekua. (Cox Bazaar) Religious places in Bandarban, Jessore and Khulna were looted and all jewellery on the deities was stolen. Eighteen crude bombs were found in Khulna.
Temples dedicated to Goddess Kali were destroyed in Rajbari and Bogra Sadar. Areas like Nilphamari, Kalia Upazila and Faridpur have been targeted. A temple dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva was attacked in Jhalokati. Temples and pandals in Bagerhat Pirojpur and Narsingdi were vandalised to a great extent.
On September 11, 2022, idols of Hindu deities were vandalised in Gazipur as reported by The Dhaka Tribune. The Police Station in Charge Alamgir Hossein Bhuiyan stated that some alleged miscreants were responsible for the attack. A human rights activist, Pradip Chandra, posted the pictures on Twitter.
Bangladeshi Hindus labelled October 13 as a “Black Day” after a stray Facebook comment on social media triggered widespread violence against the minority community in Bangladesh. One hundred and fifty families and several Durga Temples were targeted by armed Islamists in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali and Chapainnawabganj’s Shibganj and Pekua in Cox Bazaar.
Unknown vandals had smashed idols at Kashipur Sarbajanin Durga Temple in Mehendiganj Upazila in Barisal. The Officer in Charge Shafiqul Islam is planning to install CCTVs in the temple after members of the Parishad demanded strict and legal action against the perpetrators. 1,682 idols for the next Durga Puja have been remoulded.
In the city of Khulna, Bangladeshi security officials found 18 crude bombs from a gate of a Hindu Temple. The live bombs were spotted around 5:30 pm and quickly destabilised by the Bomb Disposal Squad in a safe environment according to Lt Col. Mostak Ahmed, the director of the Rapid Action Battalion.
On October 16, 2021, six idols were vandalised in Munshiganj Temple (Kali Temple). According to The Daily Star, the lock on the main entrance gate was broken and the incident took place from 3-4 am as stated by Rashedul Islam, the Assistant Superintendent of Police.
On October 17, 2021, violent mobs began to torch and set fire to 25 houses and shops that belonged to the Hindu community. The attacks took place in Majhipara, Bottola and Hathibanda villages in Pirganj Upazila. The attacks were confirmed by Soroj Kumar, the officer in charge of the police station. A total of 42 people have been detained so far. On the same day, petrol bombs were hurled by Muslim radicals at Durga Puja pandals in Feni district of Chittagong. Fire trucks were vandalised and temples in Jagannathbari, JoyKali and Gaziganj Ashram were attacked.
Hooligans and goons too have a lion’s share in the religious persecution of Hindus. The violence went to such an extent that the Government deployed paramilitary forces to control the situation. Three Hindus were killed in this event. Incidents of vandalism have also been reported in Hindu temples in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali and Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua.
Several instances of vandalism have been reported in Bangladesh after communal tensions erupted in Chittagong. The Bangladeshi Hindu Council has claimed that an idol of Goddess Durga was vandalised in Kotwali, Chattogram. Another statue was vandalised in Rustampur village in Dhaka district. A third incident was reported in Joypurhat which involved the vandalisation of idols of Hindu deities.
On October 14, 2021, another set of Hindu religious places was vandalised by miscreants. The Bangladesh Government had to deploy paramilitary forces in 22 districts and had to open fire on a mob of 500 people over an alleged incident regarding insult to the Quran. The mob attacked a Hindu temple and clashed with police in Hajiganj. The Hindu worshippers present there were viciously assaulted and thrashed by the radicals.
The Bangladesh Police have identified a man responsible for attacks on the Hindu temples in Comilla district in Bangladesh on October 13, 2021. His name is Iqbal Hossein. The Superintendent of Bangladesh Police Farooq Ahmed has successfully identified the culprit. Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have not stopped. Two Hindu temples in different villages were attacked by a mob on the night of October 11, 2021 (Monday) in Naugaon village. These incidents occurred on the eve of Kali Puja and Diwali. The SP of the district, Mohammed Nazmul Hamid Raza visited the site on Tuesday. The matter is still under investigation. On October 15, 2021, miscreants also targeted the ISKCON Temple in Bangladesh. They also had a scuffle with the devotees present there.
The Bangladesh Police have identified the culprit who was responsible for placing the Quran on the Durga Puja Mandap. His name is Iqbal Hossein and he is now declared a fugitive. After the violence in Camila district, a total of 41 people have been arrested. Of these, four are related to Iqbal. According to Bangladeshi Home Minister Assad-uj-Zaman Khan, he is rapidly changing his location from one place to another. In Chandpur district of Bangladesh, an armed mob of radicals and extremists attacked a temple after a stray Facebook post. Four Hindus were killed due to firing. On the occasion of Durga Ashtami and Dussehra, many pandals and temples have been badly damaged by armed Muslim gangs. The Facebook post has spread akin to that of a forest fire in the domain of social media.
Brutal Attacks on Pandals
The main sinister agency or organisation behind all attacks on the Durga Puja pandals and other Hindu temples, in general, is suspected to be Jamaat-e-Islami. Their main motive is to embarrass the Sheikh Hasina Government and stoke communal fire and tensions, especially in Camila district. As the news went viral on social media, there were violent attacks on pandals in Noakhali, Chandpur, Cox Bazaar, Kurigram, and Chattogram (Chittagong) along with Chapainnawabganj.
On October 2, 2022, the people of Dinajpur Khansama Upazila, especially Hindus are not celebrating the Durga Puja festivities and instead are waving Black Flags and demanding the arrest and punishment of a person involved in the rape and murder of a woman. Her name is Upobala and she was attacked while returning home. A case has been filed but no one was arrested and there is a halt in the progress, said Dhiman Das, president of Khansama Upazila Parishad. Anant Kumar Roy, who joined the protest, stated that people have pledged that no one will celebrate any festivals or take part in festivities until she is given justice.
Secular Education Must Be Promoted
On October 5, 2022, the man involved in placing the Quran on the mandap of Durga Devi was arrested by the Bangladeshi Police. The continuous attacks on the Hindu community, their religion, culture and livelihood have gravely impacted the relations between India and Bangladesh. The Indian and Bangladeshi security forces must curb terrorist organisations and Islamic extremism that is rampant in Bangladesh via counter-terrorist operations. Secular schools and secular education must be promoted in all Bangladeshi schools and even in Islamic madrassas. Teachings based on communal harmony and conflict resolution methods can do wonders if they are properly implemented by the Awami Party led by Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh must also realise that it was India which gave birth to their nation. Cultural, people-to-people talks are the need of the hour.
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