New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over the attack on a Durga Puja mandap at the Tanti Bazar area in Dhaka and the theft at Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira, India has deplored the events, saying these follow a “systematic pattern” of desecration and damage to temples and deities that has been witnessed over several days now.
“We call upon the govt of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship, especially during this auspicious festival time,” said the govt in a statement, which also seemed to be a rejection of the claim of chief adviser to the interim govt of Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus, that reports of attacks on Hindus and other minorities in the country are an exaggeration.
Indian govt sources had earlier said they are disturbed by the reported incident of theft of the crown of Jesoreshwari Kali Mata, gifted by PM Modi during his visit in 2021. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka had raised the issue with Bangladesh authorities. “Law enforcement authorities urged to investigate incident, recover the stolen article and bring the guilty to book,” said a source.
Bangladeshi daily ‘Prothom Alo’ reported an incident of a “crude bomb” allegedly thrown at a Durga Puja pandal in the Tanti Bazar area of Old Dhaka. Though the bomb caught fire, nobody was injured, the report said, adding that the incident took place on Friday night. On Thursday, two Muslim clerics and half a dozen others shocked the Hindus at a Durga Puja pandal by reciting religious songs proclaiming the inevitability of the success of Islamic revolution.
India did not let up on its criticism of Yunus’s visit to Dhakeshwari, his second since being installed as the administrator after violence forced Sheikh Hasina to quit as prime minister and flee to India.
