Mob attacks ISKCON temple in Dhaka as Hinduphobia grips Bangladesh

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<strong>In a shocking incident, Dhaka’s ISKCON temple has been attacked and vandalised by a mob of 200 people on the eve of Holi. The incident left many members of the temple injured.</strong></p>
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"It's a very unfortunate incident that took place on the eve of Dol Yatra & Holi celebrations. Just a few days ago, the United Nations had passed a resolution declaring March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia," Iskcon Kolkata Radharaman Das.</p>
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Das also said that the UN has done nothing to address the issue of Hindu minorities in countries like Bangladesh.</p>
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"We are surprised that the same United Nations is mute on the suffering of thousands of helpless Bangladeshi & Pakistani minorities. So many of the Hindu minorities have lost their lives, properties, have been raped, but alas, all the United Nations can do is to ponder upon Islamophobia," India Today quoted Das as saying.</p>
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Earlier at the UN General Assembly, India’s permanent representative T.S. Tirumurti had already raised the red flag, saying that religious persecution is not confined only to Abrahamic faiths—Islam, Christianity and Judaism.</p>
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"In fact, there is clear evidence that over decades such religiophobias have, in fact, affected the followers of non-Abrahamic religions as well. This have contributed to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias," said Tirumurti.</p>
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“Islamism in Bangladesh is rising precipitously, permeating every aspect of life and has taken root as much in urban centres as in rural communities,” wrote Baladas Ghoshal, former Jawaharlal Nehru Professor in Jawaharlal Nehru University, in a recent exclusive article in India Narrative.</p>
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He points out that on February 8, five brothers of a Hindu family were crushed to death injuring two others of the same family by a pick-up truck in what is believed to be a ‘premeditated’ attack according to the surviving members of the family. The incident took place in Chakaria Upazila in Cox Bazar district in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/opinion-news/sheikh-hasina-s-toughest-challenge-defeating-the-rising-tide-of-islamism-in-bangladesh-153784.html">Sheikh Hasina’s toughest challenge—defeating the rising tide of Islamism in Bangladesh</a></strong></p>
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According to reports the attack on the eve of Holi was orchestrated by the 62 year old Haji Shafiullah.</p>
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This is not the first time that minorities have come under attack. Last year, devotees of ISKCON temple in the Noakhali area had been attacked by a mob.</p>
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Several Durga Puja pandals and temples were also attacked in Bangladesh last year following the communal tension in Chattogram.</p>
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The atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh are beginning to draw international attention. Recently, former US presidential candidate, Tulsi Gabbard took to Twitter to raise consciousness about growing Hinduphobia in Bangladesh, and exhorted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to do more to cap religious intolerance in her country.</p>
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Our sister Tulsi Gabbard has just condemned the attack on Hindus temple in Bangladesh.<br />
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But I am surprised that the Prime Minister of Hindutva in India, Narendra Modi, did not open his mouth about the attack on Hindu temples in Bangladesh.<br />
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Thanks Tulsi Gabbard❤️🇧🇩 <a href="https://t.co/57NCvO86RC">pic.twitter.com/57NCvO86RC</a></p>
— Raju Das 🇧🇩 (@RajuDas7777) <a href="https://twitter.com/RajuDas7777/status/1450810046539911177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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An analyst said that these attacks on minorities should serve as a wake up call for the entire South Asian region. “Many of these attacks could be taking place with the aim to dent India Bangladesh relations,” he told India Narrative.</p>