Eight idols in three Hindu temples across Bangladesh’s Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts were vandalized over two days, according to a Daily Star report on Friday. Police arrested one person in Mymensingh.
Three idols were damaged in two temples within Mymensingh’s Haluaghat sub-district on Thursday and Friday.
According to Abul Khayer, officer-in-charge of Haluaghat Police Station, vandals damaged two idols at Bonderpara Temple in Shakuai union early Friday, as confirmed by temple authorities and residents.
The incident remains under investigation with no arrests or formal complaints registered.
Separately, vandals damaged an idol at Polashkanda Kali Temple in Beeldora union early Thursday. Authorities arrested a 27-year-old local resident, Alal Uddin, who admitted to the act during questioning. He appeared before a Mymensingh court and was remanded to custody.
Suvash Chandra Sarker, who heads the Polashkanda Kali Temple committee, filed a report against unknown perpetrators on Thursday.
In Dinajpur’s Birganj sub-district, vandals damaged five idols at Jharbari Shashan Kali Temple on Tuesday, with the incident discovered on Thursday.
“We’ve never seen such an act here,” Janardan Roy, president of the temple committee, was quoted as saying.
These incidents follow recent arrests of four individuals for damaging Hindu properties in Sunamganj district, and the November 29 vandalism of three temples in Chattogram amid protests following sedition charges against a former Iskcon member.
India-Bangladesh relations have become strained since Muhammad Yunus’s interim government assumed power after Sheikh Hasina‘s departure on August 5 following student protests. Tensions increased after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, previously associated with Iskcon Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has acknowledged 88 instances of violence against minorities, mainly Hindus, since Hasina’s removal.
The situation has sparked diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also expressed India’s concerns about minority safety during discussions with Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka.