Kolkata: Bangladesh Police claimed to have detained 43 people for vandalizing several Durga Puja pandals and inciting attacks in Kumila and other parts of Chattogram range.
On Wednesday, there were several incidents of vandalism of Durga Puja pandals in Bangladesh, and the government warned of strict action.
Some social media posts alleged that the Quran was placed in the lap of a Hanuman idol at a Durga Puja pandal at Nanua Difir Par in Kamila, following which the violence allegedly started.
Images of the violence were widely shared on social media.
bdnews24.com reported that Parliament Whip Abu Saeed Al Mahmood Swapan and DIG, Chattogram Rangee, Anwar Hussain visited the demolition site on Thursday morning to take stock of the situation.
referring to The DIG, the report said, was all “part of a plan to incite tension”.
Hussain was quoted as saying that the video of the incident at the Durga Puja pandal at Nanua Difir had “extremely provocative descriptions”.
The DIG said 43 people have been detained, while the police in the areas outside Kamila are on alert.
“The country is developing and a quarter is trying to sow instability,” Abu Saeed al-Mahmoud Swapan, reported BDNews24, said.
‘Broken idols cannot be worshipped’
Following the violence, Bangladesh Hindu Ekta Parishad took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce Durga Puja for this year, two days before Vijayadashami, calling it a “black day” for Hindus in Bangladesh.
“We will never forget the 2021 Durga Puja. May Maa Durga bless you all”, read the message posted by the council’s verified Twitter handle.
Pooja completed
From : Comilla nanuyar Dighi puja Mandap.
We will never forget Durga Puja of 2021. May Maa Durga bless you all. 🙏#blackdayofbyindus pic.twitter.com/25QXh1PcTY— Bangladesh Hindu Unity Council (@UnityCouncilBD) 13 October 2021
When a user asked why immersion is done on Ashtami, the council replied: “Broken idols cannot be worshipped.”
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs appealed to the people to maintain peace, saying strict action would be taken against those found guilty of disturbing communal harmony.
Meanwhile, many in India condemned the vandalism and demanded action.
In a tweet, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said the demolition of temples and Durga Puja pandals in Bangladesh following “conspiratorial rumours” was “a well-planned attack on the Sanatan Bengali community”.
In a later post, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, the official requested them to take up this “diplomatically painful and embarrassing issue with Bangladeshi authorities”. .
I request honorable PM aranendramodi ji, Hon’ble HM @AmitShah ji, Hon’ble EAM @DrSJaishankar Honorable Governor of G&WB @jdhankhar1 Sir for taking up this painful and shameful issue diplomatically with Bangladeshi authorities and supporting Sanatani Bengalis in this time of crisis. pic.twitter.com/2k5r1quwla
– Suvendu Adhikari •Suvendu Adhikari (SuvenduWB) 14 October 2021
The Bangladesh Students’ League said in a statement that it has directed all its leaders and workers to guard Durga Puja pandals.
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