Idol of Devi vandalised in Mahamaya temple amid large-scale persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh
Lakshmipur District, Bangladesh 
12 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Raipur, Lakshmipur district of Bangladesh, a Hindu temple named Sri Sri Mahamaya Temple was attacked, and the idol of the goddess was vandalised. According to media reports, the attackers broke the idol of the goddess inside the Sri Sri Mahamaya Temple. The incident occurred after the priest had completed the puja and left the temple. Upon his return, he discovered that the idol had been damaged and he immediately informed the local Hindu community. He also notified Vishwanath Saha, the general secretary of the temple committee. CCTV footage from the temple showed a masked man entering the premises, vandalising the idol, and then fleeing. The local Hindu community strongly condemned the attack and demanded strict action against the perpetrators. Laxmipur Puja Utsav Parishad called for the culprits to be identified and arrested within 24 hours. Raipur police arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. This case highlights the ongoing hatred, intolerance, violence, and bigotry faced by the Hindu community in Bangladesh at the hands of the majority Muslim population. The level of hostility and religious intolerance against Hindus in Bangladesh continues to escalate, with such attacks becoming alarmingly frequent, especially since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh has plunged into chaos as Islamist extremists have taken advantage of the political turmoil to unleash a wave of terror and violence against the Hindu community. The Islamist mobs have attacked Hindu homes, burned them to the ground, and abducted women in a horrific descent into anarchy. Several temples have been destroyed in various parts of the Islamic country in a major crackdown on Hindus. Further, the arrest of Hindu priests has exacerbated the situation, with Hindu minorities protesting across Bangladesh and seeking justice.
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- 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. The other 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 deliberate vandalism of the murti inside the Sri Sri Mahamaya Temple represents a direct attack on a sacred Hindu symbol. In Hinduism, murtis are not just representations but manifestations of the Divine and are central to daily worship. Their desecration is a targeted act meant to offend and violate Hindu religious sentiments. Hence, this constitutes a hate crime motivated by animosity towards the Hindu faith. Temples in Hinduism are sacred spaces imbued with divine presence, and any assault on a temple is seen as an assault on the faith itself. The intrusion and destruction within Sri Sri Mahamaya Temple show a clear intent to violate the sanctity of the temple and disrupt Hindu religious practice. Such acts reflect hatred towards Hindu Dharma and therefore fall under religiously motivated hate crimes. It is important to mention here that this incident is not an isolated case but part of a larger pattern of hostility that Hindus in Bangladesh are facing. 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
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
