India Condemns Demolition of Durga Temple in Dhaka Amid Rising Tensions
Strong Condemnation from India
New Delhi: On Thursday, India expressed its strong disapproval regarding the demolition of the Durga Mandir in Dhaka, criticizing the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for permitting the destruction and framing it as an issue of illegal land use.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated during a media briefing in New Delhi, "We are aware that extremists were demanding the demolition of the Durga temple located in Khilkhet, Dhaka. Instead of ensuring the temple's safety, the interim government portrayed the situation as a case of illegal land use, which led to the temple's destruction today."
He further noted, "This incident has caused damage to the deity before it could be relocated. We are troubled by the recurrence of such events in Bangladesh. It is imperative for the interim government of Bangladesh to safeguard Hindus, their properties, and their places of worship."
Earlier this week, the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) reported another incident, condemning the vandalism of a Mahastri Manasa and Durga Temple in Dinajpur district as a shocking act aimed at terrorizing the Hindu minority.
The HRCBM's statement described how assailants vandalized the temple, destroyed idols, and decapitated the Goddess Manasa's idol, an act of profound sacrilege intended to humiliate the minority community and instill fear. The attackers reportedly threatened local Hindus with further violence, promising to kill community members at the next opportunity.
The HRCBM emphasized the pervasive fear among Bangladesh's Hindu community, which has been exacerbated by years of targeted violence, social exclusion, and systemic failures.
India has adopted a firm stance regarding the rights of the Hindu minority, consistently asserting that there is "systematic persecution of Hindu minorities" under the Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh.
In response to inquiries about the recent trilateral meeting involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in Kunming, the MEA spokesperson remarked that New Delhi is closely monitoring developments in the region that impact national interests and security.
"We keep a vigilant eye on regional developments that affect our interests and security. Our relationships with individual nations are considered on their own merits, while also taking into account the evolving context," he added.
The trilateral meeting took place in China's Yunnan province on June 19, where the three nations committed to a "shared" future.
During the discussions, they agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, digital economy, environmental protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
Bangladesh's increasing engagement with China and Pakistan under Yunus's interim administration has become evident since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
Historically, relations between Dhaka and Islamabad have been tense. However, under Yunus's leadership, there appears to be a thaw in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations.
Analysts suggest that Pakistan is exploiting the situation by positioning non-state actors in Bangladesh, integrating them with Rohingya refugees, and collaborating with radical Islamist groups to promote anti-India activities.