Hindu temples targeted with bricks by a Muslim mob in Chittagong
Chittagong Division, Bangladesh 
28 November, 2024
Case Summary
A violent mob attacked Hindu minorities and vandalised three temples in Patharghata, Chittagong district, Bangladesh. The incident occurred shortly after the Jumma Namaz and targeted the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple. The mob, shouting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans, gathered on Harish Chandra Munsef Lane and launched an attack on the temples, pelting stones and bricks. The Shoni Temple’s premises were severely damaged, and the gates of the other two temples were also vandalised. Nearby shops were not spared, as attackers caused destruction in the vicinity. Tapan Das, a local Hindu leader, recounted the ordeal, describing how hundreds of individuals marched to the temples, initiating the unprovoked assault. Das highlighted that the temple gates had been closed before the mob arrived, and the Hindu community refrained from confronting the attackers. He credited the army for arriving promptly to restore order and control the situation. Kotwali Police Station Chief Abdul Karim confirmed the incident and stated that the situation was under control. The attack is linked to the arrest and persecution of former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, which heightened tensions in the area.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the database under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5 escalated the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the predominantly Islamic nation, intensifying what can be described as a silent genocide. Since her ouster, Islamists have carried out unchecked atrocities against Hindus, including physical violence, the destruction of temples and religious symbols, and the systematic displacement of Hindus from their ancestral lands. Over 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses have been recorded following Sheikh Hasina's removal as Prime Minister. Many Hindus have been brutally murdered or injured in these assaults. Amidst this, reports emerged that the Islamist mob vandalised the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple in Chittagong. Despite understanding that Hindu temples are dedicated to the worship of Hindu deities and are considered sacred spaces specifically for the practice of Hindu rituals, the Muslim mob launched an attack on the temples, pelting stones and bricks. An attack on places of worship is symbolic aggression against the entire Hindu community and their faith. In Bangladesh especially, in the ongoing ethnic cleansing, temples have been a target of Muslim mobs because of their scriptural and doctrinal animosity towards Hindus and their faith.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
