ISKCON Namhatta temple attacked in Dhaka, deities of Shri Lakshmi-Narayan burnt to ashes

Case Summary
On December 6, 2024, the ISKCON temple in Dhaka's Namhatta area was attacked and set on fire by Muslim extremists. The attackers lifted the tin roof of the temple and doused it with petrol between 2 and 3 a.m., setting the Temple ablaze. The fire resulted in the complete destruction of the idol of Shri Lakshmi-Narayan, along with other religious items and clothes, reducing them to ashes. ISKCON's Vice President, Radharaman Das, expressed deep sorrow over the destruction of the temple, stating that the incident was indicative of the precarious situation facing Hindus in Bangladesh. He called for international attention and urged India to press the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of Hindus. Prior to the fire, the ISKCON temple had been forcibly shut down by the radicals, and a video was shared showing the removal of the temple’s signboard. This attack occurred in the context of increasing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, especially following the rejection by the Dhaka High Court of a demand by radical groups to ban ISKCON. These groups had accused ISKCON of blasphemy and treason. The violence intensified after the arrest of former ISKCON priest, Chinmay Krishna Das Brahmachari, in connection with a sedition case. His arrest sparked further attacks on Hindu homes, religious places, and establishments across the country.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the primary category 'Attack on religious representations' under two separate sub-categories. The first category this case has been added to 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 this case is being added to 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. In this case, a Muslim mob, in a planned manner, removed the tin roof of the temple and doused it with petrol, setting fire to the Temple and burning the idols to ashes. The attack on the temple and the desecration of the idols was a premeditated act designed to lay the place of worship in ruins. Such attacks from deep doctrinal and scriptural hostility towards Hinduism, its representations and adherents. Essentially, the Muslim extremists believe that non-Muslims either deserve to be converted or killed, further, that any symbols of Hinduism should be destroyed, per Islamic scriptures. It is this doctrinal hostility that has led to the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Bangladesh post the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. On August 5th 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, many of which were set on fire. The ISKCON temple set on fire in this case is also a part of the ethnic cleansing of Hindus where such attacks have become common place, in a bid to turn Bangladesh into a purely Islamic nation.

Case Status
Unknown

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown