A mob barged into a Hindu temple in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka desecrating idols and causing damage to the temple premises. The mob led by Haji Saifullah came inside the ISKCON temple in Dhaka’s Wari chanting ‘Nara-e -Takbeer’ and assaulting people present inside the temple. News agency India Today said that the mob consisted of more than 200 miscreants.
People familiar with the developments told CNNNews18 that when devotees were preparing for the Gour Purnima celebrations ahead of Holi, the mob came in chanting slogans and got into a scuffle with the attendees. Three devotees were injured in the scuffle that ensued.
ISKCON officials also told CNNNews18 that police controlled the situation from getting out of hand but expressed concern that attacks of Hindus and minorities have grown over the past few years.
Attacks on Hindus also concerned Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh in 2021 when another mob led by Muslim fundamentalists vandalized Durga Puja venues and pandal in Nanuar Dighi lake in Comilla claiming that the Quran was desecrated in the pandal. The Bangladesh government made several hundred arrests in the following days but clashes led by fundamentalists on minorities led to tensions all over the nation.
Attacks on Hindus, atheists, secular Muslims and minorities have increased over the past few years despite the Sheikh Hasina-led government cracking down on the fundamentalists.
