Four Hindu deity idols defaced in Bangladesh's Rishipara Barwari Durga Puja Mandap
Pabna District, Bangladesh 
27 September, 2024
Case Summary
Idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities were vandalised at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap in Sujanagar upazila, Pabna district, Bangladesh, on September 28, 2024. A total of four idols were defaced at the Rishipara site. Authorities, including the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and army officials, visited the affected temple. Local officials, including Sujanagar Upazila Executive Officer Md. Rasheduzzaman, attempted to downplay the incident as isolated, stating that a local committee has been formed for temple safety and to apprehend the culprits.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This has been categorised as a case of religious hate under the prime category of Attack on Hindu religious symbols. 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 other sub-category this case is being added to is 'violence against religious structures or centres'. In Hinduism, a religious structure is also considered divine. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the religious structure itself is sacred. In this sub-category, we would document attacks against religious structures which are not consecrated temple spaces. Such religious spaces could be temporary in nature – for example – the religious spaces erected specifically for festivals like Durga Puja etc. This category would also document cases of attacks against religious centres. These spaces in their own right may not be ‘sacred’ per se, however, are often spaces where religious gurus live, religious teaching is imparted, or belong to religious institutions. Any attack against religious structures is a result of animosity towards the religion itself, which manifests itself through the religious spaces and therefore, such attacks are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Religious centres are also manifestations of the religion, its teachings or gurus and therefore, attacks against such centres would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Hinduism holds its deities in deep reverence, considering them sacrosanct. Despite knowing this, the perpetrators defaced four idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Bangladesh. The desecration of idols and the religious structure - the Durga Puja Mandap - stems out of disrespect and disregard for the Hindu faith and its adherents. It is also important to mention here that 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 temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Perpetrators not caught
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
