150-year-old Hindu temple set ablaze by Muslim mob amidst large scale persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh
Kishoreganj District, Bangladesh 
23 January, 2025
Case Summary
On the night of January 24, 2025, Islamists attacked and set fire to the 150-year-old Manasa Mata temple in Sarachar village, Bajitpur Upazila, Kishoreganj district, Bangladesh. Local Hindus responded quickly, extinguishing the flames, but the attack left the community distressed and fearful. The incident occurred amid heightened unrest in Bangladesh following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5, 2024. The resulting political instability provided an environment for extremist violence, particularly targeting the Hindu minority. Reports revealed a pattern of mob attacks on Hindu homes, many of which were burned. Additionally, there were accounts of women being abducted and raped during these violent events. The attacks extended to the destruction of multiple temples, including the Manasa Mata temple, further amplifying fear and insecurity among the Hindu population. The events underscored the increasing challenges faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh during periods of political turmoil.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected 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, 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. Amid this heightened unrest, the Muslim mob attacked and set fire to the 150-year-old Manasa Mata temple in Sarachar village, Bajitpur Upazila, Kishoreganj district, Bangladesh. It is important to highlight that the Muslims involved in the vandalism were fully aware that Hindu temples are sacred centres of worship for Hindus. By targeting one such temple, they knowingly attacked the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The purpose behind this was obviously to intimidate, harass, or provoke the Hindu worshippers. Furthermore, it was done primarily to target Hindus, making it a kind of religious harassment worthy of being listed in the tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
