Thousands of Hindus stormed the streets of Dhaka on Friday after radical Islamists, who were opposing the construction of the tallest statue of Lord Ram in Rangpur, allegedly desecrated an image of the diety. Protesters held a torchlight march in Dhaka and chanted “Jai Shri Ram”, while demanding the arrests of those behind the action.
Multiple Hindu organisations and students gathered at the Shahbagh intersection on Friday and marched to the National Press Club. The protesters, led by the Hindu Mahajot, also organised a human chain in front of the press club. Another group of protesters held a demonstration near the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) building.
Bangladeshi Hindus said that a mob of radical Islamists desecrated an image of Lord Ram by placing a shoe on it during a protest in Gaibandha earlier this month.
They accused Tarique Rahman’s BNP government of inaction and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding the arrests of those involved. Protesters vowed to continue rallies and protests if the demands were not met. They are also expected to submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday.
The National Committee for Puja Celebrations also announced nationwide protests on Saturday.
Construction of Lord Shiva statue halted
Authorities, meanwhile, halted the construction of the 81-foot-tall statue in Palashbari Temple in northern Gaibandha district after allegedly receiving threats from Islamist groups, according to the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee, which was behind the project. Committee President Haridas Chandra Das also said a radical Islamic preacher threatened to demolish the statue with a bulldozer.
The Hindu Mahajot responded to the move by declaring that if the the construction of the statue was not allowed to continue, they would build a Ram temple one by one in all 64 districts of Bangladesh.
Almost 80 per cent of the construction of the statue had been completed.
The proposed project, which is estimated to cost around 22 crore Bangladesh taka, also includes a 50-foot Lord Krishna statue and a 30-foot statue of Lord Shiva.
