Puja mandap attacked, Saraswati idol vandalised by miscreants amidst rising violence in Bangladesh

Case ID : f66453c | Location : Satkhira District, Bangladesh | Date of Incident : Mon, 3 February, 2025
Case ID : f66453c
location Satkhira District, Bangladesh
date 3 February, 2025
Puja mandap attacked, Saraswati idol vandalised by miscreants amidst rising violence in Bangladesh
Attack on Hindu religious representations
Desecration of Hindu religious symbol
Violence against religious structures or centres

Case Summary

On the night of February 1, 2025, Islamists attacked a Saraswati Puja mandap in Keuratali village, located in the Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira district, Bangladesh. The attackers vandalised the idol of Goddess Saraswati, the central figure of the Puja, and desecrated the mandap by throwing dirt and rubbish inside. This Puja was the only religious celebration for the Hindu residents and Hindu students of the village. The attack on the Puja mandap 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. The recent attack on the Saraswati Puja mandap marks yet another chapter in the ongoing violence against Hindus in the country, where several temples have already been destroyed in similar incidents.

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- 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 here- Violence against religious structures or centres. In Hinduism, a religious structure is also considered divine. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the religious structure itself is sacred. In this sub-category, we would document attacks against religious structures which are not consecrated temple spaces. Such religious spaces could be temporary in nature – for example – the religious spaces erected specifically for festivals like Durga Puja etc. This category would also document cases of attacks against religious centres. These spaces in their own right may not be ‘sacred’ per se, however, are often spaces where religious gurus live, religious teaching is imparted, or belong to religious institutions. Any attack against religious structures is a result of animosity towards the religion itself, which manifests itself through the religious spaces and therefore, such attacks are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Religious centres are also manifestations of the religion, its teachings or gurus and therefore, attacks against such centres would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes. 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 escalated violence against Hindus, Islamists vandalised the idol of Goddess Saraswati, the central figure of the Puja, and desecrated the mandap by throwing dirt and rubbish inside it. It is important to highlight that the Muslims involved in the vandalism were fully aware that in Hinduism, idols serve as physical representations of deities, helping devotees focus their prayers, meditations, and rituals, and act as conduits for divine presence and blessings. By targeting the idol of Goddess Saraswati, 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.

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Case Status


Unknown

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Perpetrators Details

Perpetrators


Muslim Extremists

Perpetrators Range


Unknown

Perpetrators Gender


unknown

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