Bangladesh Hindu Mahajot Protests Temple Demolition, Calls for National Boycott if Demands Not Met

GG News Bureau
Dhaka, 28th June: In a powerful demonstration of discontent, the Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajot held a human chain and protest rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday, condemning the demolition, vandalism, and looting of the Sri Sri Durga Temple in Khilkhet and the alleged assault on Paresh Chandra Shil and Vishnupada Shil in Lalmonirhat.

Led by Hindu Mahajot President Adv. Dinabandhu Roy and senior leaders including Executive President Adv. Pradeep Kumar Pal, Chief Coordinator Bijoy Krishna Bhattacharya, and Secretary General Advocate Govinda Chandra Pramanik, the rally drew sharp criticism against what they called a growing pattern of state-backed communal attacks and persecution of the Hindu community.

Speakers alleged that the Sri Sri Durga Temple and its idols were razed by bulldozers under the watch of police and army personnel, and sacred objects looted and dumped in trucks — all allegedly in response to pressure from fundamentalist groups. They also claimed the temple stood on land historically owned by Bhawal Raja Rajendra Narayan Roy Chowdhury and was illegally occupied by the Railways, thus refuting any claims of encroachment.

The protestors accused the government of blatant communal bias, pointing out that nearby structures including mosques, madrasas, and political offices on railway land remained untouched. They termed the act as part of an escalating wave of “Hindu hatred” in the country.

Citing recent incidents of arson in Jessore, where 18 Hindu homes and businesses were burned down, and a surge in attacks, arrests, and false cases under the guise of religious insult, the Mahajot said Hindus were being forced into silence or exodus. The organization also denounced the Railway Advisor’s statement claiming that idols were abandoned by the community, calling it a “blatant lie” and demanding his resignation within 24 hours, alongside a case against him for religious defamation.

Among the protestors’ demands were:

• Filing cases and launching investigations against those involved in temple vandalism and mob violence;
• Trying the perpetrators in a Crimes Against Humanity Tribunal;
• Reclaiming encroached Hindu temple lands across the country, including those in Tikatuli, Wari,
• Hrishikesh Das Road, and Purana Paltan;
• Eviction of illegal occupants and restoration of temple sites to the Hindu community within 7 days.

The Mahajot issued a stern warning: if the government fails to meet their demands within the stipulated time, the Hindu community will boycott all voting activities and polling stations across Bangladesh, launching a nationwide movement against what they termed a “fundamentalist and communal regime”.

Senior activists including Dr. Hemanta Das, Bishwanath Mohant, Advocate Shuvo Majumdar, and student and youth leaders echoed the call for justice and protection of minority rights.

As tensions rise, the Hindu Mahajot’s protest serves as a critical flashpoint in Bangladesh’s ongoing struggle over religious freedoms, minority rights, and the integrity of democratic participation.