Ensure safety of Hindus: India to Bangladesh amid reports of attack on Durga Puja pandal

India has sharply reacted to the attacks on Hindu temples and pandals as well as the theft of a Goddess Kali crown in Bangladesh where incidents of minority persecution are pouring in since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August this year.

The Ministry of External Affairs has asked Dhaka to “ensure safety and security of Hindus” and their places of worship.

The MEA said in a statement, “We have noted with serious concern the attack on a Puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka and the theft at the revered Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira. These are deplorable events. They follow a systematic pattern of desecration and damage to temples and deities that we have witnessed over several days now.”

“We call upon the Government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship, especially during this auspicious festival time.”

On Friday night, a firebomb was thrown at a pandal in Dhaka’s Tantibazar area.

The Goddess Kali crowd, which has been stolen from Jeshoreshwari Kali temple, was gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021. The temple is located in Satkhira’s Shyamnagar.

As per reports, temple priest Dilip Mukherjee had left the premises after concluding worship for the day when the theft occurred.

As caught in the CCTV footage, a man was seen entering into the temple, who allegedly stole the crown and left.

Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities since Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as the Prime Minister and exit from the country in August.

Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Reports of persecution of minority communities- read Hindus- continue to pour in.

Hindu community members in Bangladesh have been urging the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to take appropriate measures to stop sectarian attacks, persecution, and extrajudicial attempts to kill under the guise of mob justice across the country.