In a disturbing incident ahead of the Durga Puja festivities, a radical Muslim man was arrested for desecrating idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Gouripur town, located in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 25th September.

The accused, identified as 22-year-old Yasin Mia, allegedly entered the premises of the Gobindajew temple and began destroying the idols, which were being prepared for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. According to reports, artisans had been working on sculpting these idols for nearly 20 days, with only the final painting work left to be completed.

Attack Interrupted by Local Residents

Mia’s actions were interrupted when he was spotted by a local Hindu woman, Dolly Rani, who raised an alarm. Two residents, Akhil Chandra Bishwasharma and Bipul Ghosh, quickly responded and apprehended the accused, preventing him from taking away the damaged idols. The duo handed Mia over to the local police.

Following his arrest, Yasin Mia is currently being interrogated by the police. His mother, Mina Akhtar, has claimed that her son is mentally challenged, although this remains unverified at this stage.

Outrage in the Hindu Community

The incident has sparked outrage among the Hindu community in the area, with many questioning the motivations behind the act of vandalism. The President of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (Gouripur upazila) voiced his dismay, stating, “All idols have been more or less broken. I do not understand why this is done. I have never seen such an incident in my life.”

Durga Puja, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, is scheduled to begin on 9th October this year. The destruction of the idols has cast a shadow over the preparations in Gouripur, where artisans were working diligently to create the deities for the upcoming celebrations.

Ongoing Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
This latest attack is part of a concerning trend of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Over the past few years, there have been multiple reports of attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses, particularly following the political upheaval and ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In an earlier report, a Hindu boy named Utsab Mandal narrowly escaped lynching by a Muslim mob in the Sonadanga residential area of Khulna, following accusations of blasphemy. Additionally, reports have emerged of Hindu teachers, professors, and government officials being forced to resign due to pressure from radical elements.

Human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger, Asad Noor, has also raised concerns about the increasing coercion faced by the Hindu minority, with reports suggesting that members of the community are being forced to join Jamaat-e-Islami.

In a separate incident, a Ganesh idol procession in Chittagong city came under attack earlier this month in the Kadam Mubarak area, further highlighting the growing climate of hostility towards the Hindu minority in the country.

Rising Concern for Religious Minorities

The rising number of incidents targeting Hindus in Bangladesh has raised concerns about the safety and security of the country’s religious minorities. While the authorities have made arrests in some cases, including the apprehension of Yasin Mia, activists and community leaders are calling for stronger measures to protect the rights of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

As Durga Puja draws near, the community is now left to rebuild the damaged idols and restore their faith in the safety of their religious practices. The incident in Gouripur underscores the urgent need for authorities to address the growing issue of religious intolerance in the region.

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