The Chief Advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday visited the centuries-old Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka to exchange greetings with the Hindu community on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja. His visit came amid reports of attacks on another prominent Durga Puja celebration in Dhaka.
During the function at the temple, Yunus said that the government wants to build Bangladesh in such a way "where each and every citizen's right will be ensured".
Earlier today, India raised "serious concern" over the reported attack on Durga Puja mandaps citing the Friday Tantibazar incident and the theft of the golden crown at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira, about 270 km southwest of Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, describing the incidents as "deplorable events" and flagging that these follow a "systematic pattern of desecration" of temples and deities in Bangladesh.
"We call upon the government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship, especially during this auspicious festival time," the statement read.
Following the latest attack on a Durga Puja mandap, Yunus visited the Dhakeshwari National Temple, which is located in the old part of the city, and is one of the prominent shakti peeths. He was supposed to visit the temple on Sunday as announced earlier.
"During the Durga Puja, law enforcement agencies have done the 'tough' task of ensuring public security with sincerity. However, it is a collective failure to seek law enforcement agencies' support while celebrating an occasion," The Daily Star reported, citing Yunus as saying during the function.
"During his visit, Yunus exchanged greetings with the members of Hindu community on the auspicious occasion of the Durga Puja, the largest Hindu religious festival in Bangladesh," the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), said quoting the chief adviser's press wing.
Later, AF Hassan Ariff, adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, Cooperatives, and the Ministry of Land, also visited the local hospital to see those injured in the Tanti Bazar puja mandap attack. He also inspected the mandap organised by the Tanti Bazar Puja Committee, Dhaka Tribune reported.
The BSS said that Home Advisor to the interim government Lieutenant General (Rtd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury visited various puja mandaps under Srinagar and Sirajdikhan. He said the government has already allocated Taka four crore for celebrations.
A crude bomb was allegedly thrown at a Durga Puja mandap on Friday night in the Tanti Bazar area of Old Dhaka. Although the bomb caught fire, nobody was injured and no casualties were reported. However, five volunteers were injured after were attacked by the group that tossed the bomb.
So far 17 persons were arrested and about a dozen cases registered in the moth of October as Bangladesh witnessed around 35 untoward incidents during the ongoing Durga Puja celebrations, The Dhaka Tribune reported citing Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Moinul Islam.
The minority Hindu population constitutes about 8 per cent of the 170 million Bangladesh population. They have reportedly faced vandalism of their businesses and properties, and destruction of temples ever since the student-led protests turned violent resulting in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.