Dhaka, Oct 15 (UNI) Bangladesh saw more attacks on Hindu temples and Durga Puja pandals on Friday as Islamist radicals after the Jummah prayers went on a vandalisation spree, including in Noakhali where they set fire to an ISKCON temple, including the statue of ISKCON founder Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
A day after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that those behind the violence on Hindu temples and Durga Puja pandals in Cumilla would be hounded out and dealt with severely, similar violence played out in Noakhali, where an ISKCON devotee was beaten to death while trying to prevent the Islamist radicals from entering the premises and destroying the property.
Radharamn Das, Vice President and Spokesperson ISKCON Kolkata, in tweets said that a 500-strong Muslim mob gathered outside the ISKCON Temple in Noakhali and smashed the deities inside the temple and set the temple on fire. They also destroyed the idol of Durga Devi in front of the ISKCON Temple. “Our devotees fought: many are critical,” he posted.
Das requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina immediately. “There is widespread violence going on against Hindus and today they attacked our @iskcon temple in Noakhali. Many dead and many devotees in critical condition,” he posted.
Videos and photos on social media showed hordes of people pulling down the decorated gate of the ISKCON temple and flames engulfing the building. Photos of the burnt image of ISKCON founder Swami Prabhupada are also seen on social media.
ISKCON International in a tweet said that the Noakhali temple and devotees were violently attacked. “Temple suffered significant damage and the condition of a devotee remains critical.”
“We call on the Govt of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of all Hindus & bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said.
Other instances of violence against Durga Puja pandals were also reported in Noakhali.
In the capital Dhaka, hundreds of Islamist protesters clashed with police at Kakrail after they brought out a procession from the Baitul Mukarram mosque to protest the alleged “dishonouring” of the Quran in Cumilla, that led to widespread violence against Durga Puja celebrations and the Hindu community on Wednesday.
Protesters under the banner of ‘Malibagh Muslim Samaj’ took out the procession following the Jummah prayers on Friday.
A clash with police took place at the Nightingale intersection in Kakrail, when police prevented the protesters.
In another instance, the Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Celebration Council has decided not to immerse the idols of goddess Durga in protest against the vandalism of JM Sen Hall’s puja venue.
Advocate Rana Dasgupta, leader of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council, has called for a half-day strike on Saturday in Chattogram.
A group allegedly attempted to breach the puja venue gate at JM Sen Hall, while throwing brickbats and tearing down festival banners after finishing Jummah prayers at Andarkilla Shahi mosque on Friday.
UNI/RN