Reports of idols in three Hindu temples in the Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts, Bangladesh were vandalized over the course of two days have been cited by the local media sources on Friday.
One person was taken into custody by police in relation to the events in Mymensingh. The attacks are among several events that have targeted the nation’s minority Hindu community.
On Thursday and Friday, idols at two temples in the Haluaghat sub-district of Mymensingh were vandalized in different incidents. According to Haluaghat Police Station officer-in-charge Abul Khayer, two idols at Shakuai Union’s Bonderpara Temple sustained damage early Friday. “No case has been filed, and no arrests have been made in this incident so far,” Khayer stated.
In a different instance, early Thursday saw the vandalization of an idol at the Polashkanda Kali Temple in Beeldora union. Alal Uddin, a 27-year-old Polashkanda village resident, was later taken into custody by police for his alleged involvement. “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime,” Khayer stated. The defendant was taken to jail after appearing before a Mymensingh court on Friday.
On Tuesday, five idols were vandalized at the Jharbari Shashan Kali Temple in the Birganj sub-district of Dinajpur. On Thursday, the event was discovered. The temple committee’s president, Janardan Roy, remarked, “We’ve never seen such an act here.” According to Officer-in-Charge Abdul Gafur, an investigation is in progress.
Following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, attacks on Hindu temples and properties in Bangladesh have increased. Four people were taken into custody by authorities last week for attacking Hindu residences and businesses in Sunamganj district and damaging a Hindu shrine.
The attacks on the Hindu minority have increased tensions between Bangladesh and India. During meetings with Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri expressed concerns regarding the welfare and safety of minorities.
Since Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has reported 88 cases of communal violence against minorities, primarily Hindus. The two nations’ diplomatic ties have become even more strained as a result of these episodes.
