A mob attacked three Hindu temples in Chattogram, Bangladesh on Friday. The temples targeted were Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in the Harish Chandra Munsef Lane area.
Mob Damages Temples
A group of several hundred people, shouting slogans, threw brickbats at the temples. The Shoni Temple was damaged, along with the gates of the other two temples. Police confirmed the attack but reported that the damage was minimal after a confrontation between the two sides. Both groups threw brickbats at each other.
Temple Authorities Respond
Tapan Das, a member of the Shantineshwari Main Temple management, shared details of the incident. He said, “A procession of hundreds arrived after Juma prayers. They started shouting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans.” He added that the temple authorities did not obstruct the attackers. As the situation worsened, the army was called in to help restore order, and all temple gates were closed before noon.
Read : 3 Temples Attacked in Bangladesh’s Chattogram as Violent Clashes Intensify
Context Behind the Violence
The violence followed the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of the ISKCON Bangladesh, who was arrested under sedition charges. His arrest triggered protests by the Hindu community in various cities, including Dhaka and Chattogram. A sedition case had been filed against Das and 18 others for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag during a Hindu rally on October 30.
India’s Concern
India expressed serious concern over the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that India expects Bangladesh to protect its minorities. He emphasized that it is Bangladesh’s responsibility to ensure the safety and liberty of all its citizens, including minorities.
Bangladesh’s Response
In turn, Bangladesh condemned the violent protests at its Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. The country urged India to ensure the safety of its diplomatic missions, highlighting the diplomatic tension between the two nations following the recent incidents.