Hindu temple set ablaze amid large scale persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh
Dinajpur District, Bangladesh 
26 March, 2025
Case Summary
The Shyamray Bari Durga Temple in the Maldahpatty area, Dinajpur, was set ablaze by members of the radical Islamist group, Pakistan-linked, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Bangladesh, resulting in a devastating fire. The temple, a significant religious and cultural heritage site for the Hindu community, suffered extensive damage, raising concerns about targeted attacks on places of worship. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, endangering not only the temple but also nearby structures. Local authorities arrived at the scene to control the situation, while community members expressed deep distress over the incident. An investigation was launched to determine the full extent of the damage and identify those responsible for the attack. This attack was among the several such attacks that have been taking place in Bangladesh following the violent ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5th August 2024. At least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses were reported within just three days of Dhaka’s fall. Reports exposed how Muslim students forced around 60 Hindu teachers, professors, and government officials to resign. Exiled Bangladeshi activist Asad Noor has also revealed that the minority Hindu community is now being coerced into joining ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’. Hindu religious events have been repeatedly targeted. On 6th September, a procession carrying Lord Ganesha’s idol was attacked in Chittagong. Ahead of Durga Puja, multiple incidents of idol vandalism occurred, including attacks in Mymensingh, Pabna, Rajshahi, Kishoreganj, and Dhaka. On 29th November, a violent Muslim mob attacked three temples in Patharghata, Chittagong, immediately after Jumma Namaz. The crackdown on Hindu voices has also escalated. On 30th November, Hindu journalist Munni Saha was arrested in Dhaka. ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu and his aides have been targeted, while attempts to ban ISKCON and suppress Hindu protests through sedition charges highlight systematic persecution under Muhammad Yunus’s interim government.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The sub-category relevant in this case 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 perpetrators of the attack were fully aware of the sacred significance of Hindu temples and deliberately targeted them to harm the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. This act was not random but carried out with the intent to intimidate, harass, and provoke Hindu worshippers. By setting fire to the temple, the attackers sought to create fear and insecurity, demonstrating clear hostility towards Hindus and their faith. Such an act of religious vandalism goes beyond mere destruction of property; it is a direct assault on Hindu identity and spiritual traditions. Given the evident religious animosity behind this crime, it rightfully qualifies as a hate crime and deserves to be documented in the tracker. It is important to mention here that this incident is not an isolated case but part of a larger pattern of hostility that Muslims in Bangladesh continue to harbour against Hindus. The systematic denigration of Hindu beliefs, coupled with attacks on temples, homes, and individuals, highlights the deep-seated animosity that has only intensified in the wake of political turmoil. Such attack serves to normalise bigotry, further emboldening radical elements to target the Hindu community with impunity.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
