Fresh tensions have surfaced in Bangladesh after thousands of Hindus staged protests over the alleged desecration of a picture of Lord Ram and the suspension of an under-construction Ram statue project in the country.
On Friday, members of the Hindu community held a torchlight march in Dhaka and raised slogans of “Jai Shri Ram”, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the alleged incident.
The protests come days after work on an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram in Palashbari area of Gaibandha district was halted. According to the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee, which is overseeing the project, construction was stopped after threats were allegedly issued by Islamist groups.
Several Hindu organisations and students gathered at Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection and later marched towards the National Press Club. The protests were organised by the Hindu Mahajot, which also held a human chain demonstration. Another group staged a protest near the Dhaka Reporters Unity building.
In Rangpur, a minor scuffle was reported after police stopped a planned demonstration by members of the Hindu community.
Protesters claimed that an image of Lord Ram was desecrated during a demonstration in Gaibandha earlier this month. A case has been registered, but no arrests have been made so far.
Accusing the government of inaction, protesters issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding action against those involved. They warned that more protests would be organised if their demands were not met.
The Hindu Mahajot also said that if the construction of the Ram statue is not allowed to resume, Ram temples would be built in all 64 districts of Bangladesh.
The Lord Ram statue is part of a larger temple complex in Palashbari. Nearly 80 percent of the construction work has already been completed. The project, estimated to cost around 22 crore Bangladeshi taka, also includes statues of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva.
Haridas Chandra Das, president of the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee, said the work had been suspended because of security concerns. He claimed that some radical groups had threatened those involved in the project, with one preacher even warning that the statue would be demolished with a bulldozer.
“We are scared, and because of fear we have stopped the work,” Das said, while appealing to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to intervene.
Temple committee adviser Shyamlal Kumar Mahanta said the decision to halt construction was taken to maintain peace and communal harmony.
The protests are expected to continue on Saturday, with the National Committee for Puja Celebrations announcing a nationwide agitation.
Hindus form the largest religious minority in Bangladesh and account for around 8 percent of the country’s population. According to reports, around 133 incidents of communal violence were recorded in the country between January and March this year.
