Bangladesh: Three Hindu Temples Vandalised in Chattogram

In a troubling incident, a mob vandalized three Hindu temples in Chattogram, Bangladesh, during ongoing protests and violence in the region. The attack took place around 2:30 PM on Friday in the Harish Chandra Munsef Lane area, targeting the Santaneshwar Matri Temple, the Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple.

Reports from BDNews24.com indicate that a group of several hundred individuals, after attending Friday prayers, stormed the temples, throwing bricks and causing significant damage to the Shoni Temple and the gates of the other two temples. The temple authorities confirmed the destruction, which included broken gates and other damaged structures.

Kotwali Police Station chief Abdul Karim confirmed the attack, stating that the assailants had intentionally targeted the temples for vandalism. Tapan Das, a permanent member of the Santaneshwar Matri Temple management committee, described the attack, stating that the mob chanted anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans as they arrived in large numbers.

The violence in Chattogram has been escalating since the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who was detained on charges of disrespecting the Bangladesh national flag. Protests and unrest related to his arrest have heightened tensions in the region.

Tapan Das further explained that the temple authorities did not confront the attackers directly and instead called for military assistance as the situation deteriorated. The Army responded quickly, helping restore order. By the time the mob arrived, the temple gates had been secured, but the damage to the structures had already occurred. Reports suggest that the attack seemed unprovoked, with the temple staff offering no significant resistance.

This incident has raised alarm about the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.