ISLAMISTS AT IT AGAIN IN BANGLADESH

ATTACKS ON TEMPLES IN BANGLADESH ARE ON THE RISE. DESPITE PROMISE OF ACTION, THE SHEIKH HASINA GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO CRACKDOWN ON ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS

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With Deepawali round the corner, Hindus in Bangladesh are fearful that their lives and even temples would be on the radar of Islamists. This is quite disturbing but the reality indicates how Muslim fundamentalists have been humiliating Hindus by vandalising their idols and even taking away lives of believers of Sanatan Dharma.

Unfortunately, the Islamic nation of Bangladesh is vehemently intolerant and follows a policy of religious persecution against minority communities, primarily Hindus and Buddhists. Extremism and radicalisation drive the vehicle of persecution in Bangladesh. The Hindus in particular face gruesome behaviour from authorities as well as from the masses. Temple destruction is their prime target.

One such case study is that of recent attacks during the celebration of Durga Puja. The Durga Puja and Navratri are festivals which are central to the Hindu denomination called “Shaktism”. Many Bengali Hindus in West Bengal and Bangladesh are “Shaktas'' or followers of Devi. This is because the majority of the ShaktiPeethas are located in Bengal and some in Bangladesh. These festivals are celebrated on an enormous scale by the Hindus.

On October 2, 2022, a man was arrested while keeping the Quran Sharif’ in a Durga Puja mandap in Bangladesh. He was caught by the temple management and locals. A similar incident occurred last year, when violent attacks were carried out against Hindus during the Durga Puja Festival. These included vandalism, killings, rapes and attack on temples.