Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Jun 20: Massive protests erupted in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka after alleged desecration of an image of Lord Ram by protesters opposing the construction of an 81-foot statue of the deity in Rangpur region.
Thousands of members of the Hindu community participated in a torchlight procession on Friday, raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and demanding the arrest of those allegedly involved in the incident. The protests were organised after construction of the statue at Palashbari in Gaibandha district was temporarily halted.
The Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee, which is overseeing the project, claimed that threats were received from Islamist groups, forcing them to suspend the work. The incident has triggered fresh concerns over the safety and rights of minorities in Bangladesh.
Several Hindu organisations and student groups gathered at Shahbagh in Dhaka and marched towards the National Press Club. The Hindu Mahajot also held a human chain protest. Another group staged demonstrations near the Dhaka Reporters Unity building.
Protesters alleged that an Islamist mob placed a shoe on an image of Lord Ram during a demonstration in Gaibandha earlier this month. They accused the BNP-led government of failing to take action and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding arrests.
The Hindu community warned of further protests if action was not taken and said a memorandum would be submitted to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Mahajot said that if construction of the statue was not allowed to resume, Ram temples would be built across all 64 districts of Bangladesh.
The proposed statue, part of a temple complex at Palashbari, was around 80 per cent complete. The project, estimated to cost nearly 22 crore Bangladesh taka, also includes statues of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva.
Temple committee president Haridas Chandra Das said the work was stopped due to threats from extremist groups. He appealed to the government to intervene, stating that the statue was being built as a tribute to Lord Ram.
Temple committee adviser Shyamlal Kumar Mahanta said the decision was taken to maintain law and order and communal harmony.
Hindus constitute around 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s population and are the country’s largest religious minority. The latest protests have renewed discussions over minority security following reports of communal incidents in recent months.