‘Vandals set ablaze idols’: Iskcon Namhatta centre burnt down in Bangladesh

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) alleged on Saturday that its centre in Dhaka district, Bangladesh, was set on fire in a targeted attack early in the day. Iskcon Kolkata vice president Radharamn Das told PTI that the attack targeted members of the community and the Vaishnavite order, with “vandals set ablaze idols inside the temple at the Namhatta property.”
“Iskcon Namhatta Centre burned down in Bangladesh. The deities of Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan and all items inside the temple were burned down completely The centre is located in Dhaka. Early morning today, between 2-3 AM, miscreants set fire to the Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple and the Shri Shri Mahabhagya Lakshmi Narayan Temple, which fall under the Hare Krishna Namhatta Sangha, located in Dhour village, under the jurisdiction of Turag Police Station, Dhaka district,” Das said in a post on X.

He alleged that the perpetrators lifted the tin roof at the back of the temple and used petrol or octane to initiate the fire.
“Despite our repeated appeals to the interim government in Bangladesh, little is being done by the police and administration to address these targeted attacks,” he added.
While pointing out the broader safety concerns for Hindus in the South Asian nation, Das said, “Iskcon India has expressed concern about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh and urged its monks and followers from Bangladesh not to wear ’tilaks’ and practice their faith discreetly. The targeted attacks continue.”
Das also raised alarm over the safety of Hindu community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who has been denied bail and remains in custody amid escalating violence.
Since the formation of the interim government and the dislodging of the Awami League in August, Iskcon properties have reportedly been under attack at multiple locations across Bangladesh.
Condemning the incident, West Bengal BJP president and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar took to X, saying, “Strongly condemn the horrific arson attack on the Iskcon Namhatta Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which destroyed the deities of Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan and sacred temple items. This is an unforgivable act of hatred against a place of worship.” Majumdar called for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, external affairs minister Jaishankar earlier had said that Indian government takes attacks on minorities in Bangladesh seriously and has conveyed its concerns to Dhaka.
“The government has seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments, and of attacks on temples/ religious places, including in the month of August 2024, across Bangladesh,” he said adding that the “government has taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh.”