Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Oct 3: Unidentified miscreants vandalised seven idols being prepared for the upcoming Durga Puja festival at a temple in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail district, local media reported, amid concerns over attacks on Hindu places of worship in Bangladesh.
According to temple authorities and police, the vandalism took place between Wednesday night and early Thursday in the Jamurki Paschimpara area of Mirzapur.
Residents said Durga Puja has been celebrated at the temple for nearly 85 years under the aegis of the Jamurki Arya Samiti, Bangladesh's leading newspaper *The Daily Star* reported.
The temple was preparing for this year's festivities, with seven idols, including the main idol of Goddess Durga, almost complete and only painting work remaining.
“We were at the temple until 10:00 pm last night [Wednesday]. Then we went home. When we returned to the temple this [Thursday] morning, we found the idols vandalised,” *The Daily Star* quoted Jamurki Arya Samiti president Prakash Bakali as saying.
“We do not know who did this. We have lodged a formal complaint with police. Now we want law enforcers to trace those responsible and bring them to justice,” he added.
Tangail Assistant Superintendent of Police Adnan Mustafiz confirmed the incident.
“We found some idols partially vandalised. We are investigating to identify the culprits and bring them to book. Necessary security measures have also been taken,” he said.
The incident comes amid reports of attacks on Hindu temples and minority communities in Bangladesh. Local media reported that a Goddess Kali idol, along with several ornaments and religious artefacts, was stolen last month from the Uttar Kalibari Temple in Faridpur city.
The stolen items included the Goddess Kali idol, around 7-8 tolas of gold ornaments adorning it, small brass idols of Lord Vishnu, Radha-Krishna and Manasa, and a silver snake weighing approximately 8-10 tolas that was wrapped around a Shiva Linga, *The Daily Star* reported, citing temple authorities.
Recently, recalling the five-year BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance government from 2001 to 2006, the Awami League alleged that persecution of minority communities during that period was being witnessed again in Bangladesh in 2026.
“Attacks on temples, homes being set on fire, land grabbing, brutal sexual violence against women, and countless Hindus being forced to leave Bangladesh. That picture is appearing before our eyes again today, in 2026,” it said.