Ganesh Puja pandal vandalised and Lord Ganesha’s idol pelted with stones in Chittagong, Bangladesh
Chittagong District, Bangladesh 
6 September, 2024
Case Summary
On 7 September 2024, a Ganesh Puja pandal in Firingi Bazar Sevak Colony, in Chittagong, Bangladesh, was vandalised by a group of around 50 to 60 people. The attackers damaged the puja pots, chairs and tables in the mandap and threw stones at the Ganesh idol. Organisers also stated that hot water, bricks and stones were thrown from nearby houses while the idol was being taken to the pandal. The incident prompted protests by members of the Hindu community in the area. Police and army personnel arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, with at least four teams of soldiers deployed to guard local temples. Kotwali police station inspector Sajeed Kamal stated that efforts were underway to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. The vandalised puja items were being cleared, and preparations were made to resume the worship.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is: Attack on Hindu religious representation. The subcategory selected 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. The other sub-category selected here is - Desecration of Hindu religious symbols. 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 an attack on a Hindu religious observance, as a Ganesh Puja pandal in Firingi Bazar Sevak Colony, Chittagong, Bangladesh, was vandalised. A group of around 50 to 60 people damaged the puja pots, chairs and tables and threw stones at the idol of Lord Ganesha. The vandalism disrupted a space specifically prepared for Hindu worship and threatened the community's ability to conduct its religious observance peacefully. A Ganesh Puja pandal is a space dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha, a revered Hindu deity associated with wisdom, prosperity and the removal of obstacles. The puja pots and other ritual objects placed before the deity form part of the arrangements for worship, while the pandal serves as a focal point for devotees to gather and participate in religious rituals. Damaging these objects and throwing stones at the idol therefore affected more than the physical structure of the mandap; it disrupted a Hindu religious gathering and violated a space established for the expression of Hindu faith. The destruction of objects used in worship undermined the sanctity of the observance and caused distress to the devotees who had gathered to celebrate the festival. The timing of the incident further heightened its significance. The vandalism took place on 7 September 2024, the day of Ganesh Puja, when devotees were observing the festival and participating in associated religious activities. The attack interrupted an active religious celebration and forced the organisers to clear the damaged objects and make arrangements to resume the puja. Targeting a pandal during an ongoing religious observance threatened the community's ability to celebrate its faith without fear of disruption or violence. Although the perpetrators remained unidentified, the attack targeted a Hindu religious gathering, damaged objects associated with Hindu worship and disrupted the community's religious observance. The vandalism of a Ganesh Puja pandal and the throwing of stones at the idol of Lord Ganesha demonstrated hostility towards a Hindu place of worship. Therefore, this case has been included in the Hinduphobia Tracker as an instance of religiously motivated hostility towards Hinduism and Hindu religious spaces.
Case Status
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Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
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Perpetrators Gender
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