Amid growing unrest in Bangladesh following the arrest of Hindu pandit Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari by Dhaka police, several Hindu Mandirs in Chattogram were allegedly attacked by mobs. The arrest of the former ISKCON leader sparked widespread protests, with the Hindu community demanding his release and seeking justice for the persecution of Hindus, which they claim has intensified since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a related incident, more than 50 Islamists reportedly attacked the Basudev Mukuntha Dham Mandir in Patia Upazila, Chattogram, late at night, around 11-12 pm. The Mandir, which ISKCON operates, became the focus of the attack by Islamic radicals. In response, local Hindus gathered and armed themselves with sticks, forcing the attackers to flee.
A similar assault took place at Loknath Mandir in Firingibazar, where a mob of Islamists armed with sticks, rods, and swords attacked the Mandir. They pelted stones, broke the Mandir gate, entered the premises, and destroyed the murtis. These incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks on Hindu Mandirs and religious symbols in Bangladesh.
On November 22, Islamists attacked the renowned Kali Mandir in North Magura, breaking murtis before being apprehended by local Hindus and handed over to the police. Earlier, on November 11, a similar incident occurred when an individual named Humayun vandalised murtis at a Mandir in Chamata village, under Baliakandi in Rajbari district. Additionally, on October 10, 2024, Islamists stole the gold crown from the famous Kali Mandir in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, a crown that had been dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021.
The attacks are not isolated. On August 21, 2024, Islamists vandalised the Radhagobind Loknath Nat Mandir in Kaliakair, Gazipur, and prior to that Hindu devotees were assaulted and the Shibtala Karmakar Mandir in Chapainawabganj was ransacked by Muslim extremists. These repeated acts of violence against Hindus and their religious sites have raised serious concerns about the growing intolerance and the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh.
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