In a shocking incident on August 5, 2024, the Meherpur ISKCON Temple in Bangladesh was subjected to a brutal attack by Islamist extremists. The attackers targeted the Hindu community with extreme violence, leaving a trail of destruction and forcing many to flee for their lives in desperate circumstances.
According to exclusive footage from TV9, the attackers set fire to Hindu scriptures, vandalized sacred idols, and caused chaos within the temple premises. During the assault, some Hindu devotees and priests, unable to escape the rampaging rioters, took refuge in a water well to save their lives.
Approximately 16-17 individuals are believed to have jumped into the well on that fateful day, with rescuers later retrieving them using ropes. The disturbing video footage, now widely circulated on social media, shows the aftermath of the attack, including burned Hindu scriptures and defaced posters of Hindu deities.
The violence extended beyond the temple, with additional reports of looting and destruction. On the same day, one Kali temple and two Durga temples were looted and vandalized. Hindu homes and businesses were targeted as well, with more than ten Hindu houses and eight to nine shops being looted and set on fire. The situation grew even graver with the reported kidnapping of two Hindu girls during the attacks.
Sumohan Mukunda Das, spokesperson for the Meherpur ISKCON Temple, shared harrowing details of the ordeal. He described how the attackers threw a bomb inside the temple and how the frightened community members had to hide in nearby jungles overnight.
When seeking refuge in local homes, they were turned away with threats that their hosts’ houses would also be burned if they provided shelter. Das lamented the persistent suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh, noting that this violence has been ongoing since 1971.
The attack on the Meherpur ISKCON Temple is part of a broader pattern of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly following the recent fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Islamist extremists have increasingly targeted Hindu communities, their homes, businesses, and places of worship, exacerbating the plight of Hindus in the country. Reports from various sources highlight the severe challenges and dangers faced by Hindus in Bangladesh as they continue to endure relentless attacks and persecution.
This incident underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the escalating violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
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