Dhaka:Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote has raised alarm over the safety of the Hindu community in anticipation of Durga Puja and the forthcoming Union Parishad elections. The organization highlighted incidents of temple attacks, idol vandalism, and threats to community members across various regions of the country.
According to United News of Bangladesh, during a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, the organization expressed that the increasing insecurity might compel some Hindus to consider emigration. They urged for enhanced security measures and unbiased investigations into the deaths of community members.
Palash Kanti Dey, the Executive Secretary General and spokesperson, delivered a statement pointing out that Hindu religious sites have been particularly targeted around religious festivals and election periods. He reported that temples and idols have been vandalized, and community members have been threatened in several districts ahead of Durga Puja.
Palash demanded accountability for those involved in these acts, regardless of their political affiliations. He cited the case of Dipu Das, who died in a fire, and Niranjan Chandra Sutradhar, whose body was found in a drum in Mymensingh, claiming that 46 Hindu community members have been killed or found dead in the past nine months.
The organization called for impartial judicial investigations into these deaths to determine if they were suicides or premeditated murders, and to ensure justice for the victims. They proposed a four-point demand, including the enactment of a minority protection law, the formation of a minority commission, and the establishment of a central monitoring cell to safeguard the Hindu community during Durga Puja.
Additionally, the organization welcomed the government's decision to declare October 22 a holiday through an executive order but advocated for Ashtami, Nabami, and Dashami to be recognized as general holidays starting next year. They argued that executive order holidays are vulnerable to revocation by future governments.
The organization further requested the government to install CCTV cameras at all permanent and temporary puja mandaps at its expense and to enhance security at these venues starting 10 days before the festival.