Saraswati idol vandalised by a Muslim man ahead of Saraswati puja in Bangladesh
Faridpur District, Bangladesh 
30 January, 2025
Case Summary
A case of temple vandalism was reported from Faridpur district in Bangladesh, where a radical Islamist was caught by local Hindus after desecrating a Hindu temple. The accused, identified as 32-year-old Muhammad Mirajuddin, entered the Saraswati temple in the Vatilaxmipur area of Faridpur town late at night on January 31, 2025. Around 11:30 PM, he forcibly pushed the idol, causing it to fall and break. The entire incident was recorded on the temple’s CCTV camera. As Mirajuddin attempted to escape, local Hindus pursued and captured him. He was then handed over to the police. According to local sources, Mirajuddin had previously vandalised another Hindu temple. On February 7, 2024, he was caught while attacking the Sri Sri Radha Govinda ISKCON temple in Faridpur. At that time, his family claimed he was mentally ill, leading the police to release him. Following his latest act of vandalism, the Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station, Muhammad Asaduzzaman, confirmed that Mirajuddin was presented in court and placed in judicial custody. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh witnessed rising violence against the Hindu community. Islamist extremists took advantage of the political turmoil, targeting Hindu homes, abducting women, and destroying temples across the country, deepening fears and insecurity among the Hindu minority community.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first 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 second 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 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, the report indicates, that a Muslim man vandalised a Saraswati Temple and idols kept inside the premises in Bangladesh's Faridpur town. It is important to highlight that the Muslim man involved in the vandalism was fully aware that Hindu temples are sacred centres of worship for Hindus. By targeting the temple, he 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 out of animosity for Hindus and their faith, making it worthy of being listed in the tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
