Thousands of Hindus marched with torches in Dhaka, condemning the alleged desecration of Lord Ram’s image and seeking action in Dhaka on Friday. Demonstrators roared “jai shree ram” slogan and called for the arrest of individuals allegedly involved in the incident.
The protests come amid growing controversy surrounding the construction of an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram in Palashbari, located in the northern Gaibandha district. The project, which was being developed by the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee, was recently halted after concerns were raised over threats allegedly issued by Islamist groups opposing the monument.
Protesters Issue 72-Hour Ultimatum
During the demonstration, protesters accused the government of failing to take adequate action against those allegedly responsible for the desecration incident. Community representatives issued a 72-hour deadline for authorities to make arrests, warning that additional rallies and protests would be organised if their demands were not met.
Organisers announced that a memorandum outlining their demands would be submitted to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday. The document is expected to seek government intervention regarding both the alleged desecration and the suspension of the statue project.
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Hindu Mahajot Warns of Wider Temple Campaign
The Hindu Mahajot, a Hindu organisation in Bangladesh, stated that if construction of the Lord Ram statue is not allowed to continue, it would launch efforts to establish Ram temples across all 64 districts of the country. The organisation described the proposed statue as an important religious and cultural symbol.
The Lord Ram statue forms part of a larger temple complex planned in Palashbari. According to the temple committee, nearly 80 per cent of the construction work has already been completed before the project was suspended.
The development is estimated to cost approximately 22 crore Bangladeshi taka, equivalent to around Rs 15.6 crore. The complex also includes plans for a 50-foot statue of Lord Krishna and a 30-foot statue of Lord Shiva.
Temple Committee Cites Security Concerns
Haridas Chandra Das, president of the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee, said construction was stopped after threats were allegedly received from Islamist groups. He stated that safety concerns prompted the decision to suspend work on the project.
