Ongoing Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh: ISKCON Temple Vandalized, Idols Burned

Bangladesh is seeing another attack on Hindu temples after anti-Hindu extremist activities are gaining pace in the country. Another temple fell victim to extremists on 6 December 2024, local media reports revealed. The ISKCON Namhatta Temple located in Dhaka was targeted by a mob of hardliners Friday night.

Damage Severe and Holy Idols Set Aflame

The attackers reportedly first dismantled parts of the temple structure, including its tin roof, before dousing the idols with petrol and setting them on fire. Operated by ISKCON, the temple was forced to close just a week earlier by a hostile crowd. Hindu organizations have issued condemnations of the incident which they say continues to target smaller minority Hindu communities with impunity on the part of authorities-those particularly Muhammad Yunus-criticized for being observant bystanders.

Another ISKCON Namhatta Centre burned down in Bangladesh. The Deities of Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan and all items inside the temple, were burned down completely 😭. The center is located in Dhaka. Early morning today, between 2-3 AM, miscreants set fire to the Shri Shri Radha Krishna… pic.twitter.com/kDPilLBWHK

— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) December 7, 2024

Vice President of Kolkata ISKCON Confirms Attack

Kolkata ISKCON Vice President Radharaman Das confirmed the incident on social media platform X. He described the brazen acts of vandalism and arson, while noting a broader campaign to suppress Hindu voices. He cited recent arrests—most notably that of Chinmay Krishna Das Prabhu—along with ongoing attempts to ban ISKCON as part of a systematic effort to intimidate and marginalize Hindus.

Attacks Escalate After Arrest of Hindu Leader

Violence against Hindus has increased since the arrest of Chinmay Krishna Das on charges of sedition in Dhaka on November 25, after allegations of sacrilege of the Bangladeshi national flag during a Hindu rally. According to observers, attacks on Hindu temples and communities have increased since Sheikh Hasina's government was toppled, as radical elements have used political instability to serve their agenda of religious persecution.