Massive Hindu protests rock Dhaka over 'insult' to Lord Ram; immediate action sought

Protests broke out in various parts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, after an image of Lord Ram was allegedly desecrated by radical Islamists who are resisting the construction of the deity’s statue in Rangpur in the northern part of the country.

Thousands of members of the country’s Hindu minority staged a torchlight procession in the city on Friday (June 19), raising “Jai Shri Ram” chants after the construction came to a halt a week ago due to the protests and concerns over communal tensions. They also demanded the arrest of those who allegedly insulted the Hindu god by placing shoes on it during a demonstration earlier in June and gave the authorities to take steps within 72 hours.

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The statue in Gaibandha district of Rangpur division, when completed, would become Bangladesh’s largest statue of the Hindu god, standing at more than 80 feet.

Statue supervising authorities apprehensive

The local Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple, which is overseeing the project, claimed that officials received threats from Islamist groups over the construction.

Haridas Chandra Das, president of the temple committee, confirmed the same. A radical Islamic preacher even threatened to demolish the statue with a bulldozer, said an India Today report.

He said the work was suspended out of fear and sought Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s intervention.

Temple committee adviser Shyamlal Kumar Mahanta said the work was halted for the sake of communal harmony.

The incident brought to the fore concerns over the minorities’ rights and safety in the Muslim-majority country, which has seen a rise in strong anti-Hindu and anti-India sentiments in recent years.

The statue is estimated to cost around 22 crore Bangladesh Taka (around Rs 17 crore). Two other statues – of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva – were also set to be constructed as part of the project.

Dhaka University students protest

Students also joined the protests against the alleged targeting of Lord Ram’s image. A group of students from Dhaka University brought out a torch procession and organised a rally earlier this week. They also demanded the arrest of those behind the act, Bangladesh’s The Daily Star reported.

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It added that the demonstration was held under the banner of “Concerned Students of Dhaka University” at the institution’s Raju Memorial Sculpture on June 15 night. Several members of the Hindu community took part.

Ram Prasad Saha Topu, a leader of the Jagannath Hall Students Union of the university, a residence hall for students from minority communities, told the gathering that Lord Ram is a revered deity in Hinduism.

“Recently, one extremist group spread rumours involving Lord Ram, and then another extremist group hit the image of our revered deity with shoes. These acts have hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community,” The Daily Star quoted him as saying.

He also said that they want people of all religions and communities to live in unity, but certain groups were trying to create a division. Topu called for resistance against such forces.

The protesters later proceeded to Shahbagh and blocked the key area of Dhaka for some time.

No arrest infuriates protesters

Despite the protesters' urging the government to take action in the case, no arrests have been made so far. On Friday (June 19), several Hindu bodies and students gathered at Shahbagh intersection again and continued their march till the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. The Hindu Mahajot spearheaded the protest and organised a Hindu chain in front of the press club. It also held a protest near the Dhaka Reporters Unity building.

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Reports of a minor scuffle also came from Rangpur after the local police barred Hindus from demonstrating.

Demand for resumption of construction work

The protesters, who accused the Rahman government of taking little action, warned of further rallies and protests if no step was taken. The Hindu Mahajot also said that if the construction of the temple did not resume soon, it would set up a Ram temple in each of Bangladesh’s 64 districts. The protesters were also set to submit a memorandum to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs this weekend.

Rahman, who took over in February after an election, has asserted repeatedly that everyone in Bangladesh has the right to religious practice. In his first national address as the PM, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party declared that religion was for individuals, but the country belonged to all.

However, the number of incidents of communal violence in the country has continued to haunt the minorities.