Kolkata: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) reported on Saturday that one of its centers in Dhaka district, Bangladesh, was set ablaze in the early hours of the morning. The fire caused extensive damage, destroying sacred idols and other temple belongings.
Radharaman Das, the Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, condemned the incident, describing it as a targeted attack on the Hindu community and followers of the Vaishnavite tradition. He stated that such acts of violence against minorities in Bangladesh continue unabated despite repeated appeals for intervention.
Sharing the details on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Das said, “The ISKCON Namhatta Centre in Dhaka has been burned down. Deities of Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan and other temple items have been completely destroyed. The attack occurred between 2 and 3 AM at the Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple and the Shri Shri Mahabhagya Lakshmi Narayan Temple, situated in Dhour village under Turag Police Station in Dhaka district.”
This incident adds to a troubling series of attacks on Hindu religious sites in Bangladesh. In August, another ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Khulna division, was vandalized and torched amid political turmoil in the country. While no casualties were reported in that incident, the pattern of violence has raised serious concerns about the safety of Hindu minorities.
Das criticized the lack of action by authorities, urging the Bangladeshi government to take immediate steps to protect religious minorities and prevent such attacks. The Hindu community in Bangladesh, which constitutes a minority population, has repeatedly faced acts of violence, including arson, vandalism, and intimidation.
The international community has also called for better safeguards to uphold the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for swift justice and robust protection mechanisms to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
 reported on Saturday that one of its centers in Dhaka district, Bangladesh, was set ablaze in the early hours of the morning. The fire caused extensive damage, destroying sacred idols and other temple belongings.){kind=link}