Bangladesh’s Hindu community is celebrating its largest festival, Durga Puja, under tight security measures following recent attacks and amid ongoing tensions in the Muslim-majority country.
The weeklong celebration, ending Sunday with the immersion of the Hindu Goddess idols, has been overshadowed by reports of vandalism, violence, and intimidation against Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s population of nearly 170 million.
Supriya Sarker, a schoolteacher participating in the Kumari Puja in Dhaka’s Uttara district, expressed concern: “It is a challenging time for us Hindus. We faced problems in the past as well, but we did not see such escalation earlier.”
The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council reported 2,010 incidents of communal violence targeting minorities, mostly Hindus, between August 4 and 20. These incidents included killings, rapes, and destruction of property and temples.
Security concerns have been heightened following recent political changes, including the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Minority communities have criticized the current government for inadequate protection.
Despite promises of security from Home Affairs Adviser Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Army Chief Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, tensions remain. Recent incidents include the arrest of members of an Islamic cultural group for singing revolutionary songs at a Hindu temple and a firebomb attack on a temple in Dhaka.
Jayanta Kumar Dev, president of the Sarbajanin Puja Committee, confirmed reports of attacks on temples and idols before the festival’s official start on October 9.
While some festival-goers, like university student Arpita Barman, remain optimistic about religious harmony, others express concern over the need for such extensive security measures during a religious celebration.
As the festival concludes, authorities have stated that special security measures, including military deployment, will remain in place, highlighting the delicate balance between religious freedom and security in Bangladesh’s diverse society.
