Bangladesh has been a brewing ground for targeted attack, violence and atrocities against the minority Hindu community. For more than a year now, Dhaka and other regions have been witnessing heinous crimes against hindu community espoused by the radical Islamist groups. Hindus are killed, hanged and even hindu houses have been torched down. Amidst such perilous circumstances, Hindus in Bangladesh are holding a massive protest against the atrocities of the radical Islamists group who illicitly target the Hindu minorities.
As per the reports, the desecration of Bhagwan Ram photo in Gaibandha district of Northern Bangladesh and the threat to stop the construction of life-size Bhagwan Ram murti in Palashbari has triggered the protest. On June 19, Friday, the Hindu groups in Dhaka thus held a massive protest against the miscreants for hurting hindu sentiments. The Hindu community held a huge torchlight demonstration, chanted the slogan “Jai Sri Ram” and demanded the arrest of those who are responsible for the misdeeds.
The protest was called by Hindu Mahajot. Several representatives from Hindu organisations and students marched from Shahbagh intersection to the National Press Club. The protestors apart from holding torchlight marches and chanting slogans, also formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club. Another group of Hindus protested near the Dhaka Reporters Unity building.
The protesting Hindus also gave a 72 hours ultimatum to the Bangladeshi government to take stringent action against the Islamist mob who were involved in the heinous crime. The minority Hindu community also reiterated that if concrete and timely action is not taken by the government and if the construction of Bhagwan ram murti doesn’t resume, protests will be organised in all 64 districts of Bangladesh. They also said that a formal memorandum will be submitted to the Ministry of Religious Affairs over continued atrocities by the radical Islamists groups against the minority Hindu community.
Reports further assert that a group of radical Islamists were holding protests in the Gaibandha district opposing the construction of 81-feet Bhagwan Ram statue in Palashbari. During these demonstrations, radical Islamist groups burnt and damaged the photo of Bhagwan Ram. As per the sources, radical Islamists even threw slippers at the photograph of Bhagwan Ram.
Construction of Bhagwan Ram murti halted due to threats by radical Islamist groups
The construction of Bhagwan Ram statue is part of the temple complex of Palashbari in Gaibandha district. It is a Rs. 15.6 crore(22 crore Bangladeshi taka) project which also includes the construction of a 50-foot statue of Bhagwan Krishna and 30-foot statue of Bhagwan Shiva. Haridas Chandra Das, President of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple Committee said that the construction of Bhagwan Ra murti was paused owing to threats by Islamist groups.
“We are scared, and in fear and out of fear, we have kept the work suspended”, Das told the media. He also appealed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to intervene and resolve the issue. In a statement, temple committee adviser Shyamlal Kumar Mahanta said the decision to halt work was taken to “preserve social harmony”. “We are stopping this work to maintain law and order and communal harmony. We do not want to become the cause of any dispute, nor do we wish to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments”, the committee stated.
The protests are said to be continued on June 20, Saturday as well, with the National Committee for Puja celebrations announcing a nationwide agitation against the atrocities of radical islamists who irrationally and inhumanely are targeting the minority Hindu community in the country.
