A Durga temple in Narayanganj was vandalised, while a 65-year-old Hindu fish farm owner was found dead in Jashore, amid continuing concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
Key Takeaways
Durga temple vandalised: A temple inside Laxminarayan Cotton Mill in Narayanganj was allegedly vandalised, with access blocked by members of Knit Concern Group.
Hindu man found dead: Police recovered the body of 65-year-old Ranjan Mondal from the Mukteshwari River in Jashore. His body was reportedly stuffed inside a sack.
More attacks reported: The incidents follow the alleged murder of another Hindu man and vandalism and looting at three Hindu-owned homes last month.
A Durga temple in Narayanganj was allegedly vandalised, while police recovered the body of a 65-year-old Hindu man from a river in Jashore, amid continuing reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh.
The incidents have raised fresh concerns over the safety of Hindus in the country.
Durga Temple Vandalised in Narayanganj
The latest temple attack took place at Laxminarayan Cotton Mill in the Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj. Local media reported that the Durga temple inside the mill premises suffered vandalism.
Knit Concern Group, a ready-made garment manufacturing company, faces allegations of blocking access to the temple and damaging its property.
Police detained the company’s director, Monir Hossain Mollah, and Ibrahim, the head of its security department, on Wednesday (Nov 11) evening for questioning.
Narayanganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Tarek Al Mehedi confirmed the development, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
He said authorities were examining a land dispute between the temple committee and Knit Concern Group. Police were also looking into complaints of vandalism and restrictions on entry to the temple.
Tarun Lal Begi, general secretary of the Laxminarayan Cotton Mills Durga Temple Committee, alleged that someone removed the existing lock from the temple gate on Tuesday evening and replaced it with a new one.
He claimed the move prevented devotees and others from entering the premises.
Begi further alleged that Knit Concern Group members ignored administrative instructions and carried out the act. He also accused the company’s director, Monir Hossain Mollah, and his associates of damaging the temple’s decorations and pandal.
Hindu Fish Farm Owner Found Dead in Jashore
In another incident, police recovered the body of a Hindu man from the Mukteshwari River in Jashore district.
The deceased, Ranjan Mondal, 65, owned a fish farm. Police found his body near Helarghat in the Mashiahati area of Monirampur upazila on November 7.
Local media reported that someone had stuffed his body into a sack before dumping it in the river.
His wife, Beauty Mondal, said Ranjan left home on the afternoon of November 6 but never returned.
She said police informed her about the recovery of his body the following morning.
Beauty also claimed that his neck and other parts of his body bore injury marks.
Monirampur Assistant Superintendent of Police Imdadul Haque said police recovered the body after receiving information about it. They later sent it to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital for a post-mortem examination, Dhaka Stream reported.
More Attacks on Hindu Community Reported
The latest incidents follow another alleged murder and attacks on Hindu households in Bangladesh last month.
A 43-year-old Hindu man, Rabendra Rishi, was allegedly stabbed to death. In a separate incident, miscreants reportedly vandalised and looted three houses belonging to Hindu families.
These incidents have intensified concerns over reported attacks on minority communities, particularly Hindus, across Bangladesh.
Reports of such violence emerged during the tenure of the former interim government led by Muhammad Yunus and have continued under the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)