Durga Mandir attacked, idols of Goddess Saraswati vandalised by unknown miscreants in Dhaka
Dhaka District, Bangladesh 
12 February, 2025
Case Summary
Extremists attacked the Solahati Durga Mandir in Turag, Dhaka, vandalising two idols of Goddess Saraswati. The attack, carried out around 3:45 am, involved assailants arriving in a white car, destroying the idols, and fleeing before locals could respond. Despite a police complaint being registered, no arrests were made. The incident was confirmed by Turag Police Station OC Mohammed Rahat Khan. According to Palash Sarkar, son of the temple president, the temple had recently hosted Saraswati Puja, and the idol was still inside. A nearby guard witnessed the attack but refrained from intervening, fearing the attackers were armed. By the time he returned with help, the perpetrators had escaped. Local Hindus called the police, who arrived in the morning, collected evidence, and reviewed CCTV footage. However, no suspects were been identified or detained. The attack on the Durga Mandir is part of a broader pattern of violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh, which has escalated following the fall of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Since then, Islamist extremists have exploited the political instability, targeting Hindu homes and religious sites. These groups have been responsible for the destruction of temples, arson attacks on Hindu homes, and abductions of women, leading to a climate of fear and insecurity among the Hindu minority.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This incident has been added to the tracker under the category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first 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 second sub-category selected is- Attack on Temple. 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 vandalism of the Durga Temple and the desecration of the Saraswati idols is a blatant act of religious hatred, deliberately targeting Hindu religious sentiments. Such actions indicate a deeply ingrained hostility towards Hinduism which is not just vandalism but a symbolic assault on the faith itself, intended to humiliate and instil fear within the Hindu community. It is also important to mention here that though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
