Why is there fear of unrest in Bangladesh ahead of Durga Puja festivities?

Amid concerns over the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, there are reports that radical Islamist groups are trying to dampen the Durga Puja festivities. This comes even as the country’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has promised to take measures required to celebrate the Hindu festival peacefully.

Bangladesh will mark Durga Puja from October 9 to 13. The festivities come in the wake of the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Since she resigned and fled to India, allegations of discrimination against Hindus have surfaced.

Let’s take a closer look.

Threats to Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh?

A News18 report claims that Muslim bodies have denied permission to the Hindu minority to celebrate Durga Puja citing poor security arrangements and threats. It has also mentioned reports of vandalism of Durga idols from several areas in Bangladesh.

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A new idol of the deity was allegedly vandalised in Kishoreganj’s Batrish Gopinath Jiur Akhara on early Thursday. In the Comilla district, the Durga idol was damaged and the donation box at the temple was looted, reported News18.

Firstpost has not independently verified the report.

According to an India Today report, videos on social media showed radical groups in Bangladesh protesting against Durga Puja celebrations. They reportedly took to the streets, shouting slogans like “Pujo hote debo na” (won’t allow Durga Puja).

Meanwhile, a Hindu teacher named Shreshtha Haldar was allegedly fired from IUBAT —
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology in Dhaka for opposing protests against Durga Puja. She had questioned the opposition of Muslim groups to the use of “universal” to describe the Hindu festival when similar objections were not raised against using “global” to refer to the Prophet Muhammad, India Today reported.

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Islamist group ‘objects’ to Durga Puja

A radical Islamist group in Bangladesh has reportedly warned Hindus in the country against openly celebrating Durga Puja and taking part in idol worship or immersion.

As per India Today, the radical group Insaf Keemkari Chhatra-Janta organised a protest last month in Dhaka’s sector 13 against the Hindu community using a playground for the Durga Puja festivities. They presented a 16-point list detailing reasons for their opposition to the celebration, including environmental damage and the use of government funds for religious activities.

They claimed the Hindu festival created a nuisance for the Muslim majority in the country.

They also called for the removal of temples “built by occupying many special lands in Bangladesh”. The group asked all temples to display anti-India banners and slogans, reported India Today.

Bangladesh govt assures peaceful celebrations

Amid fears of possible strife during Durga Puja, Bangladesh ’s interim government said earlier this week it will take steps to ensure peaceful celebrations.

“The Durga Puja celebration of this time will be the best one compared to all the previous celebrations. We will take whatever measures are required to peacefully hold the festival,” Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, as per the state-run BSS news agency.

His statement came after a meeting of the law and order affairs advisory council on Tuesday.

The interim government has issued directives to maintain law and order in the country during the Durga Puja celebrations. These include patrols, increased intelligence surveillance, deploying armed forces and inspecting the puja pandals by local administration and law enforcement agencies, according to a Daily Bangladesh report.

“Authorities are advised to be vigilant against the spread of any objectionable or inflammatory statements on social media that may hurt religious sentiments. Puja celebration committees are required to appoint a sufficient number of volunteers and guards for round-the-clock monitoring of the puja pandals, with at least three during the day and four at night,” the order stated.

In September, the Yunus-led government had suggested Durga Puja committees turn off their musical instruments and sound systems during azan and namaz, according to the Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune.

Chowdhury said at the time that steps will be taken to “prevent evil activities of miscreants” so that celebrations can be held without any obstacles. The government decided to hire volunteers to maintain security at puja pandals.

The Home Affairs Adviser had also urged people not to cross the border to see the Puja festivities. “During the Puja, people travel back and forth, people from this side go to see the Puja on the other side (of the border), and people from the other side come here to see the Puja. I have requested everyone to organise good puja mandaps in the border areas this time so that our people don’t have to go to the other side to see the Puja, and people from the other side don’t have to come here,” Bengali daily Prothom Alo quoted Chowdhury as saying.

Last month, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain had warned of strict action against those disrupting communal harmony or targeting places of worship during Durga Puja. He assured the Hindu community that no one will be able to harm their temples and urged them to celebrate the festivals with enthusiasm and religious fervour, reported PTI.

Concerns over Hindu safety

Hindus’ safety in Bangladesh became a hot topic soon after Hasina’s ouster. As per Indian Express, as many as 205 incidents of attacks on Hindus were recorded a week after the toppling of the Hasina government.

Reports of vandalism of the businesses of Hindus, their properties and temples came to light in August. At the time, thousands of Hindus had hit the streets in Dhaka and the northeastern port city of Chattogram, demanding protection.

Hindus make up about 8 per cent of the 170 million (17 crore) Bangladesh population.

After Yunus took charge of Bangladesh, he called for communal harmony in the country. “We are a country of communal harmony. None of you must do anything in any way which can affect religious harmony”.

Yunus had also assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a call on August 16 that the interim government would “prioritise protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh”.

With inputs from agencies