Idol of Hindu deity targeted for desecration by Muslim man at Durga Puja pandal in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka District, Bangladesh 
17 October, 2026
Case Summary
In the Bauniabad Ravidas Para area of Pallabi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, an idol of a Hindu deity at a Durga puja pandal mandap was targeted for desecration by a Muslim man named Md. Hasan Islam Tushar (25). The incident took place at around 10 pm on 18 October 2026, when the Muslim accused entered the temple as a visitor. The Durga Puja pandal (mandap) was set up at the public Sri Sri Ram Temple in the Bauniabad Ravidas Para area. Assistant section commander APC Md. Abul Khair, who was responsible for security, became suspicious of his movements and kept him under surveillance. The accused subsequently attempted to cross the bamboo fence and approach the idol, prompting Abul Khair to detain him. A search of his bag recovered a hammer, a bottle, chisel-like tools and a large axe. Tushar, a resident of Pallabi, was handed over to Pallabi Police Station for further legal action. Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force officials stated that security at the puja mandap remained normal following the incident.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack on Hindu religious representation. Within it, 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 incident constituted a religiously motivated hate crime because the conduct involved an attempt to damage a Hindu religious idol at a Durga Puja mandap, a site associated with the public observance of one of Hinduism’s major festivals. An idol is a sacred representation used in Hindu worship, and deliberately targeting such an object for destruction constitutes an attack on a religious symbol central to the faith and its devotional practices. The attempt to approach the idol with tools capable of causing physical damage, including a hammer, chisel-like implements and a large axe, was significant because these were not ordinary objects of worship but implements that could be used to damage the sacred object. The circumstances therefore indicated a potential act of deliberate desecration rather than an incidental disturbance at a religious gathering. The religious context was particularly significant because Durga Puja mandaps serve as spaces where Hindus assemble to worship, offer prayers and participate in communal religious observances. An attempt to damage an idol in this setting threatened not only the physical integrity of a sacred object but also the community’s ability to observe its religious festival without interference. The targeting of a religious symbol in a space dedicated to Hindu worship communicates hostility towards the faith and undermines worshippers’ sense of security in practising their religion. Such conduct also intimidates the wider religious community by creating the fear that its sacred objects and places of worship may be subjected to deliberate attacks. One might argue that the incident did not constitute a hate crime because the idol was not actually damaged. However, this argument is invalid because the absence of completed damage does not negate the intent or significance of an attempted act of religious desecration. The perpetrator’s attempt to approach the idol with tools capable of causing damage demonstrated that the threat to the sacred object was not merely hypothetical. The timely intervention of the security personnel prevented the attempt from progressing further, but it did not diminish the seriousness of the conduct or its potential impact on the Hindu community. An attempted attack on a sacred religious symbol remains significant even when it is thwarted before physical damage occurs. The attempted desecration of a Hindu religious idol during Durga Puja therefore constituted an attack on a sacred symbol of Hinduism and the community’s right to practise its faith without fear of targeted interference. Therefore, this case has been added to the tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
