Minority leaders protest arrest of Gaibandha temple project leader, accuse government of indifference

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Leaders of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad staged a protest at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday to condemn the arrest of Haridas Chandra, an organizer behind the construction of an 81-foot statue of Lord Ram in Gaibandha’s Palashbari upazila. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Chandra last Sunday, subsequently charging him under the Money Laundering Prevention Act at the Uttara West Police Station.

During the demonstration, Nirmal Rosario, the organization’s president, criticized the government’s stance, arguing that the construction of religious institutions is a fundamental exercise of religious freedom. He stated that the minority community played an active role in the July mass uprising and had supported the current administration, noting that they were previously assured their security and rights would be prioritized under the new government.

Rosario expressed concern over the administration’s perceived indifference toward the mounting challenges faced by religious minorities. He questioned how such obstacles to temple construction could persist under the current government, urging authorities to take decisive action against those interfering with the project in Gaibandha. He emphasized that every faith possesses the inherent right to build, protect, and preserve its religious institutions in a secular society.

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Acting General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath echoed these sentiments, rejecting the legal justifications used against Chandra. He argued that the scale of a religious monument is a matter of religious practice rather than a legal issue, asserting that there are no standard limitations on the height of such structures. Nath further suggested that the government’s actions in this matter fail to reflect the spirit of an inclusive, non-communal nation.

The protest concluded with a march through the streets of Purana Paltan, with participants calling for greater protection of minority interests. The rally was addressed by several prominent community figures, including presidium member Subrata Chowdhury, organizing secretary Hemanta I Koraiya, and Dhaka metropolitan president Atul Mandal, with Youth Oikya Parishad President Shimul Saha presiding over the proceedings.