Dhaka: The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance staged a human chain and protest rally today in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, condemning the recent wave of attacks and injustices against the Hindu community.
The protest, held at 10:00 AM, was triggered by the demolition of the Sri Sri Durga Temple in Khilkhet and violent incidents in Lalmonirhat, where Hindu individuals were reportedly assaulted and falsely implicated in legal cases under allegations of religious insult.
Among the prominent figures addressing the rally were Adv. Dinabandhu Roy, President of Hindu Mahajot; Adv. Pradeep Kumar Pal, Executive President; Bijoy Krishna Bhattacharya, Chief Coordinator; Adv. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, Secretary General; Dr. Hemanta Das, Joint Secretary General; and other leaders including Bishwanath Mohant, Shuvo Majumdar, Kalyan Mandal, Kishore Barman, Gautam Sarkar Apu, Sajib Kundu Tapu, Niloy Pal Adar, Apurba Mridha, Utpal Bhowmik, Pallab Das, Sajib Das, and Shuvojit Chakraborty.
Speakers alleged that law enforcement agencies, acting on the demands of fundamentalist groups, used bulldozers to destroy the Durga temple in Khilkhet. Not only were the idols and sacred objects damaged, but they were also reportedly looted and removed using trucks. Meanwhile, in Lalmonirhat, two Hindu men—Paresh Chandra Shil and Vishnupada Shil—were said to have been brutally attacked and later arrested under fabricated charges.
According to the protestors, these incidents are part of a broader pattern of religious persecution. They pointed out that while the demolished temple stood on land originally belonging to Bhawal Raja Rajendra Narayan Roy Chowdhury, the adjacent mosque, madrasa, and several political party offices on railway land were left untouched—exposing, they argued, the government’s selective and communal targeting.
The protestors accused the government of systematically ignoring the rights and voices of the Hindu community. They emphasized the lack of Hindu representation in the national advisory council and various reform committees. Concerns were also raised about discriminatory practices in public appointments and constitutional neglect of Hindu perspectives.
“In the last two months alone, attacks on Hindu individuals and property have surged dramatically,” the speakers stated. “Incidents of vandalism, arson, land grabbing, and arrests under false charges are being reported almost daily from different parts of the country.” They cited a recent case in Jessore where 18 Hindu homes, shops, and personal belongings were reduced to ashes.
The protest also denounced the Railway Authority’s justification for the demolition, calling it deceitful and an attempt to mislead the public. The Railway Advisor was accused of spreading falsehoods by claiming that the idols were abandoned by the Hindu community.
Video evidence circulating on social media, according to the protesters, contradicts the official narrative and clearly shows the destruction and mishandling of religious icons.
Calling the Railway Advisor’s comments a severe breach of oath and an insult to the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, the National Hindu Grand Alliance demanded his immediate resignation. They also called for the filing of a legal case against him under laws concerning religious insult.
Additionally, the protesters urged the government to immediately evict illegal occupants from several temple properties, including:
- Rajdhani Market and a four-storey mosque built on the site of Madaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Tikatuli
- Sita Nath Temple land at 90/91 Hrishikesh Das Road
- Shankha Nidhi Temple site at 38 Tipu Sultan Road in Wari
- FA Tower, constructed over the site of Laxmi Narayan Temple at 1 Purana Paltan
They issued a seven-day ultimatum for the restoration of all encroached temple lands across Bangladesh. Failing this, the Alliance announced its intent to launch a countrywide movement. As a form of civil protest, they also declared that the Hindu community would boycott all upcoming elections—refusing to cast votes or participate in any political process under the current administration, which they accuse of aligning with fundamentalist ideologies.
The protest concluded with a resounding call for justice, equality, and protection of minority rights, warning that continued neglect and persecution could escalate the already fragile communal harmony in the country.
