Islamists in Bangladesh attack Hindu houses and temples

Islamists in Bangladesh have attacked and vandalized 58 Hindu houses and all the temples in Shiali and Gowara Villages in Khulna district. 

So far, police have arrested 10 people in this case of vandalism where several Hindu temples, homes, and shops in a village in Khulna were destroyed.

Police have arrested Shariful Islam, Samrat Mollah, Manjurul Alam, Shariful Islam Sheikh, Rana Sheikh, Mominul Islam, Akram Fakhir, Shohel Sheikh, Shamim Sheikh and Jamil Biswas in a raid carried out on Saturday night and the situation in the location is currently under control. Additional police forces were deployed to maintain law and order.

On Saturday, August (7), four Hindu temples, and at least 10 idols of gods and goddesses, six shops, and two homes of the local peaceful Hindu community were vandalized in an attack by unidentified Islamists in a Khulna village.

Apparently, the attacks happened after a heated altercation between two groups of Hindu and Muslim locals on Friday night.

Krishna Gopal Sen, general secretary of Rupsha upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad, told reporters that at least 10 idols at four temples were vandalized during the attacks. “There is high tension in the area now. But the local administration is working to keep the overall situation under control.”

The altercation which later turned into a pogrom started when Hindus in the area were singing Kirtan, a form of devotional songs, during the Esha prayers according to local mosque’s Imam Maulana Nazim Uddin.

“The situation had gotten out of hand a bit after someone shoved me after I urged them to not sing in front of the mosque during prayers. However, the situation was resolved after police arrived and intervened,” he said.

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