The minority population in Bangladesh is facing ongoing persecution with no end in sight. After extremists threatened Hindus during the “Durga Puja” celebrations and demanded a jizyah (tax paid by non-Muslim populations to their Muslim rulers) from them, Buddhist monks in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) announced that they would not hold the “Kathin Chibar Dan” (Kathina Robe Offering) this year because of safety concerns. This festival is one of the biggest religious events for the Buddhist community in CHT each year.
The announcement was made on the afternoon of October 6 at Maitri Bouddha Vihar in Rangamati during a press conference. Shraddhalankar Mahathero, the President of the “Parbatya Bhikshu Sangha,” said that the festival will not be celebrated in any temple in the area because of the ongoing insecurity and uncertainty. The festival was originally planned for the first week of November.
The monks explained that this decision was made because of the increasing violence against the minority community. They accused law enforcement officials of being both directly and indirectly involved in the violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They also mentioned that although investigation committees were set up, they were not allowed to investigate any of the communal attacks.
Shraddhalankar Mahathero talked about recent violent incidents in the Khagrachari and Rangamati hill areas that occurred between September 18 and 20, and on October 1. During these events, settlers looted, damaged, and burned down hundreds of shops owned by indigenous people, leading to the tragic deaths of four indigenous individuals, including a student. Additionally, donation boxes in Buddhist temples were stolen, and Buddha statues were damaged.
The word “Kathin,” which means difficult, is linked to the annual religious event called Kathin Chibar Dan. During this event, Buddhist followers give monks special robes known as “Chibar.” These robes are made of cotton and are woven by the devotees overnight. The celebration started about 2,500 years ago by Bishakha, who was a nurse to Gautama Buddha. It takes place before Probarona Purnima, a festival where people release skylights, marking the end of a three-month period when monks meditate in their monasteries for personal growth and to seek forgiveness for humanity.
Attacks on Durga puja pandals
Notably, murtis of Ma Durga and other Hindu deities were damaged at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap on September 28 and the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Puja Mandap on October 1. These incidents are part of an ongoing wave of attacks against the minority community, especially Hindus in Bangladesh. The attacks occurred in the Sujanagar upazila of the Pabna district in Rajshahi Division.
Five Hindu murtis were destroyed at the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Puja Mandap, while four murtis were damaged at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap. On October 3, seven murtis were also destroyed at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap. In just six days leading up to the “Durga Puja” celebrations, three temples and sixteen Hindu murtis in Bangladesh have been targeted.
Since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Government on August 5, there have been at least 205 attacks on Hindu Mandirs, shops, and businesses. This happened after months of anti-quota protests that turned into efforts to change the Government.
