Hindu temple vandalised amid large scale persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Dhaka District, Bangladesh 
4 August, 2024
Case Summary
On August 5, 2024, Bangladesh plunged into chaos after a successful coup ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, forcing her to flee the country as an enraged mob approached her residence. In the wake of the coup, Islamists exploited the unrest to launch violent attacks on the Hindu community, leading to numerous deaths, rapes, and the destruction of Hindu homes, shops, and temples. A group of Muslims entered the Sri Sri Baradeshwari Kalibari Temple and vandalised the office room of the temple management committee. They also demanded extortion from the shops under the temple. They also occupied the place of Baradeshwari crematorium and looted the goods from the cremation ground,
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been categorised under the prime category of 'Attack on Hindu religious representations' in the hate tracker. The relevant sub-category 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. Among the incidents, the Sri Sri Baradeshwari Kalibari Temple in Bangladesh was vandalised by radical Muslims. The vandalism was carried out despite the understanding that temples are sacred spaces and centres of worship for Hindus. Such attacks not only cause physical destruction but also deeply wound the spiritual and cultural fabric of the Hindu community, as temples symbolise their faith and collective identity. The deliberate targeting of these revered spaces underscores the profound animosity Islamists harbour towards the Hindu faith, which is why this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
