By Sharunya Raja
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18: The Hindus are facing a heinous attack in all over Bangladesh.
The series of incidents were reportedly started after Islamic extremist groups hid Al Quran and kept it on the feet of Lord Hunuman idol inside the Nanuar Dighir Par Durga Mandir and shared photos of it on Facebook.
According to Dipan Mitra, secretary general of the World Hindu Federation Bangladesh Chapter, the group then alleged that Hindus are insulting Islam and started attacking Hindu Temples in Cumilla town.
“After that, the attack on temples and Hindus was spread to all over the country.
“During the Durga Puja, main religious festival of Hindus, extremist groups (Muslims) attacked on Hindus and Temples,” he said.
Dipan said they vandalized more than 315 temples and its Idols and looted all valuable things in more than 30 districts of Bangladesh from October 13 till 16.
“They attacked and vandalized nearly 1,500 Hindu houses in Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Chapai Nawabgonj and other districts. Hindu owned shops and business places were vandalized and looted in Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Chittagong, Feni and other districts in Bangladesh,” he added.
According to Dipan, more than 10 Hindus were killed. They are:
• Manik Saha at Hazigonj in Chandpur.
• Jatan Saha (Hindu Priest) at Choumohoni, Noakhali.
• Priest Nimai Krishna and other priest at ISCON Mandir, Noakhali.
• Three Priest at Ram Thakur Ashram of Choumohoni, Noakhali.
• Prashanta Das (26 Years) at Cumilla.
• One person at Ramu Durga Temple, Cox’s Bazar.
Till now 17 Hindus are missing. More than 23 Hindu women and girls were raped including 3 in a family. A 10-year-old Hindu girl was gang-raped and killed by the extremist group.
Following are the list of the series of attack:
1. Cumilla District
• Vandalized and demolished Nanuar Dighir Par Durga Temple
• Attacked Nrisingh Dev Temple and Dashavuja Kali Temple at Chatipatti Area
• Vandalized and Burnt Rishipara Temple
• Vandalized Rajeswari Kali Temple at Monohorpur area.
• Attacked other 14 Temples and Durga Puja Pandels in Cumilla town
2. Chittagonj District
• Attacked 15 Puja Mandaps in Banskhali of Chittagong
• Attacked J M Sen Hall Puja Pandel in Chittagonj City
• Attacked Karunamoyi Kalibari Temple at Chakbazar in Chittagonj.
• Attacked 3 Temple and Puja pandels at Melaghar, Patia in Chittagonj
• Attacked 5 Temple and Puja pandels at Sarkarhat and Hathazari in Chittagonj.
3. Noakhali District
• Attacked on Noakhali ISKCON temple.
• Attacked on Ram Thakur Ashram
• Vandalized and burnt 10 temples and Puja Pandelsincluding Trishul, Mongola, Nabadurga, Bijoya and Koatbari Puja Pandel.
• Attacked 9 temples and Puja Pandels at Choumohoni in Noakhali.
• Attacked 5 temple and Puja pandels at Nalchira, Hatia.
• Attacked 20 Hindu houses at Nalchira, Hatia.
• Attacked, Vandalized and Set Fire all Hindu houses at Chayanibazar, Begumgonj, Choumohoni and Sonaimuriin Noakhali.
4. Gazipur District
• Attacked 4 Puja Pandels in Kashempur area
• Attacked other 3 temples and Puja Pandel in Gazipur City
5. Laxmipur District
• Attacked 7 Temple and Puja Pandels Pat Ramgati and Char Sita in Lakshmipur.
6. Kurigram District
• Vandalized and set fire in 9 Temple and Puja Pandels at Kuladanga and Ulipur in Kurigram
7. Cox’s Bazar District
• Attacked and looted more than 200 Hindu families of 4 unions at Chakaria and Pekua in Cox’s Bazar.
• Attacked 7 Temple and Puja Pandels at Chakaria and Pekua.
8. Bandarban District
• Lama Hari temple and another 4 temples were vandalized and looted money and all Jewelries dols in Bandarban.
9. Sylhet District
• Attacked 6 Puja Pandels at Jakiganj in Sylhet.
10. Chandpur District
• Attacked 7 Temple and Puja Pandels at Hajiganj of Chandpur.
• Attacked 70 Hindu houses at Hajiganj of Chandpur.
• Attacked Ramkrishna Mission in Chandpur.
• Attacked 150 Hindu families and vandalized their houses and looted all valuable things.
11. Khulna District
• 18 bombs were recovered from the entrance of Mahashmshan Ghat at Rupsa in Khulna.
• Attacked 3 Temples at Rupsa area in Khulna.
12. Jessore District
• Attacked 5 Temples and Puja Pandels at Avaynagar and Sharsha in Jessore district.
13. Chapai Nawabgonj District
• Attacked 8 Temples and Puja Pandels at Mankasa, Bindapara and Shibgonj area in Chapai Nawabgonj.
14. Feni District
• Vandalized and looted the Hindu owned Shops and Business places at Feni town.
• Vandalized 4 Temples and Pandels including Raksa Kali Temple in Feni town.
15. Moulvibazar District
• Attacked 5 temple and Puja pandels at Chandpur in Moulvibazar.
16. Bhola District
• Attacked 6 temples and Puja pandels at Bhola Sadar
• Vandalized and looted the Hindu owned Shops and Business places at Barabazar in Bhola Sadar.
17. Barisal District
• Vandalized 3 Temples and Puja Pandels at Agargharain Barisal district.
18. Rangpur District
• Attacked 2 Temples at Pirgong in Rangpur.
19. Nilphamari District
• Attacked and vandalized 3 temples at Dimala in Nilphamari.
20. Narail District
• Vandalized 7 Temples and Puja Pandels at Lohagaraand Kalia in Narail district.
• Attacked and vandalized 20 Hindu Houses at Shuktagram of Kalia Upazila.
21. Netrokona District
• Vandalized 3 Temples and Puja Pandels at Durgapur in Netrokona.
22. Rajbari District
• Attacked 1 kali temple at Pannar More area in Rajbari.
23. Faridpur District
• Vandalized 2 Temples at Baghat in Faridpur district.
24. Satkhira District
• Vandalized 3 Temples and Puja Pandels at Ashashuni, Paikgacha in Satkhira district.
25. Bogra District
• Vandalized Raksa Kali Temple and Maa Sitala Temple in Bogra Sadar.
26. Kishorganj
• Vandalized 3 Temples at Karimgonj and Kuliachar in Kishorgang district.
27. Narsingdi District
• Vandalized 1 kali Temple and 1 Puja Pandel at Sirajdikhan in Narsingdi district.
28. Bagerhat District
• Vandalized 2 Temples and Puja Pandels at Sharakhola in Bagerhat district.
29. Jhalokhati District
• Vandalized 1 Shiv Temple and 1 kali temple at Khataliaand Rajapur in Jhalokhati district.
30. Pirojpurpur District
• Vandalized 5 Temples and Puja Pandels at Bhandaria, Mathbaria and Nazirpur in Pirojpur district.
There are many other incidents in different parts of Bangladesh that have not come to light yet, Dipan added.
“Now is the time to clarify the position of the government – do they want Bangladesh to be a secular prosperous.
“Bangladesh or do they want to take it back to the ideology of the previous Pakistan.
“The lack of justice is giving birth to new crimes in this country,” he said.
He also urged the government for immediate arrest of all culprits and take stern actions against them.
