Bangladesh Dhaka University Hindu students demand arrests after Islamists desecrate Bhagwan Ram’s murti in Gaibandha
Dhaka: Students from the Sanatan Dharma community at the University of Dhaka staged a protest march and rally on June 15 after alleged Islamist activists were accused of disrespecting an image of Bhagwan Ram by throwing shoes at it in Bangladesh’s Gaibandha district. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
The demonstration, organised under the banner “Aware Students of Dhaka University,” began at around 7:30 pm at the iconic Raju Memorial Sculpture on the university campus. Students from Jagannath Hall, along with residents of several women’s dormitories, joined the programme in significant numbers. The protesters later marched through the campus and temporarily blocked the busy Shahbagh intersection, drawing public attention to their demands.
Addressing the gathering, Ram Prasad Saha Tapu, Social Service Secretary of the Jagannath Hall Student Union, strongly condemned the incident and accused extremist elements of attempting to create division within society.
“Shri Ramchandra is one of our ten most revered incarnations. Recently, a radical group spread rumours about Ramchandra, and then another radical force publicly beat the image of our beloved deity with shoes. This has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sanatan community,” he said. He emphasised the importance of communal harmony and urged authorities to take immediate action against those responsible.
“We want to live together in this country regardless of religion, caste, or community. However, certain groups are trying to create division and unrest. Such forces must be stopped,” Tapu added.
Several other student leaders also spoke at the rally, expressing frustration over what they described as a recurring failure to ensure justice and protection for religious minorities in Bangladesh. Deepjoy Sarkar Deepta, Assistant General Secretary (AGS) of the student body, criticised what he called a double standard in addressing religious sensitivities and demanded equal treatment for all communities. Meanwhile, Sudipta Pramanik, General Secretary (GS) of the Hall Parliament, accused political parties of failing to fulfil promises made to minority communities.
“Before elections, governments often make commitments regarding the security and rights of minorities. However, after elections, many of those promises are forgotten. We urge the current administration to immediately arrest those responsible for this insult and ensure they face justice,” Pramanik stated. He further warned that if authorities fail to take swift and visible action, students would launch a larger protest movement next Friday.
During the rally, protesters announced a series of demands. These included the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the Gaibandha incident, stronger government measures to preserve religious harmony and curb extremism, and the resumption of construction work on what organisers described as the country’s largest statue of Bhagwan Ram in Gaibandha.
