Hindu Mohajote voices safety concerns ahead of Durga Puja, polls

Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote on today (2 October) expressed concern over the security of the Hindu community ahead of Durga Puja and the upcoming Union Parishad elections, alleging attacks on temples, vandalism of idols and threats against community members in different parts of the country.

At a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, the organisation claimed that a growing sense of insecurity had prompted some Hindus to consider leaving the country and called for stronger security measures and impartial investigations into the deaths of members of the community.

Reading out a written statement, its Executive Secretary General and spokesperson Palash Kanti Dey said Hindu communities and their religious establishments had faced attacks, particularly before and after religious festivals and during elections.

He alleged that temples and idols had been vandalised and members of the Hindu community threatened in several districts ahead of this year’s Durga Puja.

Demanding justice for those responsible, Palash said the perpetrators must be brought to book irrespective of their political affiliations.

Referring to the burning death of Dipu Das and the recovery of Niranjan Chandra Sutradhar’s body from a drum in Mymensingh, he claimed that 46 members of the Hindu community had been killed or found dead across the country over the past nine months.

He called for impartial judicial investigations to establish the circumstances of the deaths, including whether they were suicides or planned killings, and ensure justice for the victims.

The organisation placed a four-point demand, including enactment of a minority protection law, formation of a minority commission and establishment of a central monitoring cell to ensure the security of the Hindu community during Durga Puja.

Welcoming the government’s decision to declare 22 October a holiday through an executive order, in addition to the existing holidays, the organisation called for Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami to be declared general holidays from next year.

They argued that holidays granted through executive orders could be withdrawn by a future government.

The organisation also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras at all permanent and temporary puja mandaps at government expense and enhanced security at the venues from 10 days before the festival.