Hindu temple torched, idols burned to ashes amid rising Islamist violence in Bangladesh
Gopalganj District, Bangladesh 
20 January, 2025
Case Summary
Two Hindu temples in Kashiani, Gopalganj district, Bangladesh, were set ablaze by Islamist extremists. The idols inside the temples were reduced to ashes. Promoth Biswas, who conducts daily worship at the temples, said, "I went to the temple for my usual morning prayer on Tuesday and found the bamboo door open," he said. "Inside the Durga temple, I saw that the worship materials had been burned. Additionally, the statue of Shitala Devi in the nearby Shitala temple had been set on fire using straw. I immediately informed others about the situation." The incident occurred amid escalating violence against the Hindu community following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Since the government’s collapse, Bangladesh faced severe political instability, providing an opportunity for Islamist mobs to target Hindus with violence. Reports indicated that Hindu homes were attacked and burned, while women were abducted in a wave of terror. Numerous temples in the region were also destroyed during this period, reflecting a major crackdown on the Hindu minority community.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The incident has been added to the tracker under the category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The first sub-category selected under this 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 second 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 removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, 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. Meanwhile, Islamists attacked two temples in Kashiani of Gopalganj and set them on fire. This was done despite the understanding that Hindu temples are dedicated to the worship of Hindu deities and are considered sacred spaces specifically for the practice of Hindu rituals and prayers. Such an act reflects a profound disregard for the faith and its practices, stemming from underlying animosity toward Hinduism. This incident exemplifies an intentional effort to insult religious sentiments, warranting its inclusion as a serious offence motivated by hatred.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
