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According to an ANI report, the latest tensions surfaced days after the construction of an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram in Palashbari of Gaibandha district was halted. The Shri Shri Radha Govinda Temple Committee, which is overseeing the project, alleged that authorities had received threats from certain Islamic groups. The controversy has reignited concerns over the condition of minority communities in Bangladesh, where around 133 incidents of communal violence were recorded between January 1 and March 31 this year.
Protesters claimed that during a demonstration earlier this month in Gaibandha, a crowd associated with members of the Muslim community placed a shoe on an image of Lord Ram, allegedly insulting the deity. The incident triggered widespread outrage among Hindu organizations.
Following complaints submitted by Hindu groups, a case has been registered, but no arrests have been made so far. On Friday, members of several Hindu organizations and students gathered at the Shahbagh intersection and marched toward the National Press Club. The protest was organized by Hindu Mahajot, while another group held a separate demonstration near the Dhaka Reporters Unity building.
In Rangpur, police stopped Hindu demonstrators from proceeding, resulting in minor clashes. A memorandum is scheduled to be submitted to the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday.
Hindu Mahajot warned that if permission to resume the construction of the Lord Ram statue is not granted, the community would build Ram temples one by one across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. Protesters accused the BNP government led by Tarique Rahman of failing to take action and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding the arrest of those allegedly involved in the desecration.
The Lord Ram statue was being constructed as part of a temple complex in Palashbari, with nearly 80 percent of the work already completed. The proposed project is estimated to cost around 2.2 billion Bangladeshi Taka, equivalent to approximately Rs 15.6 crore. The complex also includes plans for a 50-foot statue of Lord Krishna and a 30-foot statue of Lord Shiva.
The developments have added another layer of tension to the debate surrounding minority rights and religious harmony in Bangladesh, with the controversy over the halted temple project and the alleged insult to Lord Ram drawing nationwide attention and prompting demands for immediate action.
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