Bangladesh Defends Durga Temple Demolition as Legal Action, Vows Religious Harmony

The Bangladesh government issued a detailed clarification when mass media reports and diplomatic protests broke out over the demolition of a Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka. The Foreign Ministry stated the temple was an illegal, temporary structure on Bangladesh Railways' land, and its demolition was a legal measure to reclaim public property.

 

Important Points:

 

Temporary Permission, Permanent Violation: The temple was initially allowed as a temporary Puja Mandap during last year's Durga Puja subject to the condition that it would be dismantled after the festival. But the organisers did not dismantle it, but attempted to turn the structure permanent.

 

Legal Demolition: The Bangladesh Railway authorities, with the assistance of police and security personnel, conducted a peaceful eviction of all illegal structures, including the temple, on the basis of repeated notices to the organisers.

 

Adherence to Religious Unity: The government reiterated its adherence to safeguarding all religious groups and religious sites, stressing that no religious building can be constructed on public property without authorization.

 

India's Response: India denounced the demolition, calling on Bangladesh to safeguard minorities and their religious sites, citing apprehensions of extremist pressures for the action.

 

Prospect: While Bangladesh maintains that the destruction was a legitimate land reclamation process, the incident has stretched the goodwill between bilateral actors, keeping alive the delicate balance between upholding the law and protecting minority rights in the country.

 

Sources: India Today, NDTV, Economic Times, Business Standard