In the midst of ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, an ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Khulna division, was vandalised and set ablaze. The attack on this Hindu temple is part of a troubling trend of violence targeting religious sites across the country following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
ISKCON spokesperson Yudhistir Govinda Das reported that the temple, which was rented, suffered severe damage. He stated, “According to the information I have received, our ISKCON centre in Meherpur was destroyed, including the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi. Fortunately, three devotees residing at the centre managed to escape and survive.”
The violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh has intensified following Hasina’s departure. Hindu temples have been particularly affected, with at least four such temples suffering attacks and minor damages in the past 24 hours, according to Kajol Debnath of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
In addition to the temple attacks, an Indian cultural centre in Dhaka, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, was also vandalised. This centre, which encourages cultural ties between Bharat and Bangladesh, was damaged by an unruly mob during the turmoil.
Protesters in Dhaka have targeted several significant locations, including Bangabandhu Bhaban, the residence of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also Sheikh Hasina’s father. The escalation of anti-government protests, initially sparked by demands for the abolition of a civil service job quota system, evolved into a broader call for Hasina’s resignation after violent clashes resulted in numerous casualties.
Faced with mounting pressure from the widespread protests, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on Monday. In response, Bangladesh’s Army chief, General Waqar-Uz-Zaman, announced the formation of an interim government and urged protesters to end the violence.
