Under-construction Saraswati idols vandalised by unknown miscreants in Bangladesh

Case Summary
Unknown miscreants vandalised several under-construction Saraswati idols in the Taratia area on the night of January 24, 2025. The incident caused significant distress among locals, who demanded a thorough investigation and action against the perpetrators. This attack occurred amid ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024. The political instability allowed Islamist extremists to exploit the situation, leading to widespread violence targeting the Hindu community. Reports highlighted incidents of mob attacks on Hindu homes, with houses set on fire and women abducted and raped, marking a period of severe communal unrest. In addition to targeting individuals, extremists destroyed several temples, intensifying fears among the Hindu minority. The chaos underscored the vulnerability of Hindu religious minority in times of political turmoil.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The ousting of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, has significantly worsened the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the predominantly Islamic nation, escalating what can be described as a silent genocide. In the wake of her removal, Islamists have unleashed unchecked atrocities against Hindus, including physical assaults, the destruction of temples and religious symbols, and the systematic displacement of Hindus from their ancestral lands. Since her departure as Prime Minister, over 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses have been documented. Many Hindus have been brutally killed or injured in these targeted assaults. As part of this ongoing large-scale persecution of Hindus in the Islamic nation, another incident has emerged where unidentified miscreants vandalised Saraswati idols. It is important to highlight that the miscreants involved in the vandalism were fully aware that in Hinduism, idols (murtis) of deities are not just symbolic representations but are considered embodiments of the divine. They are objects of profound veneration and are integral to religious practices and rituals. By targeting the idols of the goddess Saraswati, they knowingly attacked the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The purpose behind this was obviously to further intimidate, harass, or provoke the Hindus who are already being persecuted in the Islamic nation of Bangladesh. Since this act was done primarily to target Hindus, it is a kind of religious harassment worthy of being listed in the tracker. Though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred idols and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.

Case Status
Unknown

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown