The demolition of a makeshift Durga temple in Dhaka's Khilkhet area has sparked a diplomatic flutter, with India criticising Bangladesh’s interim government for failing to protect a minority place of worship, even as Dhaka maintained that the structure was illegally constructed on railway land and removed through lawful means.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the temple had been erected last year without prior permission from authorities and that the removal was part of a broader eviction drive involving numerous unauthorised establishments, including shops and party offices, along the rail tracks.
“The fact remains that last year, during Durga Puja, without having prior permission, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on a piece of land that is undisputedly owned by Bangladesh Railways,” the ministry said. “Regrettably, after the Puja was over in October 2024, the organisers declined to remove the makeshift Mandap, violating the mutual agreement.”
Idol immersed in river with ‘community participation’
According to the Foreign Ministry, despite repeated requests from the authorities, the organisers began converting the temporary structure into a permanent installation, even placing a ‘Maha Kali’ idol at the site. This contravened the agreement between the community and Bangladesh Railways, it said.
Also read: Bangladeshi Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das gets bail
The land was needed to advance construction of new railway lines under a government project. Bangladesh Railways eventually carried out the eviction on 26 June, reportedly in the presence of local community members.
“In the course of the eviction process, the idol of the makeshift Mandap was immersed in the nearby Balu River, in due reverence, with the participation of the members of the local Hindu community,” the ministry added.
India voices concern, blames interim government
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), however, took strong exception to the incident. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the demolition, which he described as influenced by “extremists clamouring for destruction”, had caused damage to the deity and undermined the trust of the Hindu community.
“We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka. The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use, and they allowed the destruction of the temple today,” Jaiswal said.
“Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus’ properties and religious institutions.”
The Bangladesh government defended the move, asserting that while it respects all religions and protects places of worship, religious structures cannot be built on public land without prior authorisation.
“While the laws of the land ensure full protection to all places of worship without discriminating against any built in conformity with law, it is not permissible for anyone to build any religious structure encroaching on public land under any circumstances,” the statement read.
“The organisers of the makeshift Mandap clearly exploited the trust and goodwill of the Railway authorities by violating their own agreement.”
Despite the clarification, several Hindu minority organisations in Bangladesh held demonstrations, alleging that the local community was not given adequate notice before the eviction. They condemned the demolition and questioned the timing and method of the removal.
The controversy, coming amid preparations for the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh, has once again brought the treatment of minority communities under scrutiny.
Follow us
