Thousands of Bangladesh Hindus protest against Lord Ram's idol desecration
What's the story
Thousands of Hindus took to the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Friday to protest against the alleged desecration of a Lord Ram image. The unrest was sparked by an incident earlier this month when an Islamist group allegedly placed a shoe on an image of Lord Ram during a demonstration in Gaibandha. The protesters also demanded the arrest of those responsible for the desecration and criticized Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government for its inaction.
Arrest demand
Protesters threaten to intensify agitation
The protesters, led by the Hindu Mahajot, also demanded the arrest of those involved in the alleged desecration within 72 hours. They threatened to intensify their protests if their demands were not met. A memorandum will be submitted to the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday as part of these efforts.
Project suspension
Statue of Lord Ram
The protests come after the construction of an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram in Palashbari, Gaibandha, was halted. The project, which was to be part of a temple complex, had been threatened by Islamist groups. Haridas Chandra Das, president of the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee behind the project, said they suspended work out of fear for their safety.
Harmony concerns
Temple committee cites concerns for social harmony
The temple committee also cited concerns for social harmony as a reason for suspending the project. "We are stopping this work to maintain law and order and communal harmony. We do not want to become the cause of any dispute, nor do we wish to hurt anyone's religious sentiments," the committee stated. The proposed project was estimated to cost around 22 crore Bangladeshi taka (₹16.9 crore) and included statues of other deities such as Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva.
Religious rights
Prime Minister Rahman addresses rise in communal violence
Prime Minister Rahman has repeatedly stressed that everyone in Bangladesh has the right to practice their religion freely. He had said during his first national address as PM that religion is for individuals, but the country "belongs to all." However, incidents of communal violence have been on the rise, with 133 such incidents reported between January 1 and March 31 alone.