The news of theft of the crown from the Goddess Kali temple presented by PM Modi in Bangladesh was still fresh, meanwhile the news of another controversial incident has come to light. A video of Durga Puja pandal stage in Chittagong, Bangladesh is going viral. In this video some people are seen singing Islamic songs. Controversy has arisen when the video surfaced. Police have said that a case has been registered in connection with the incident and two people have been arrested. According to reports, the incident took place around 7 pm on Thursday evening on the stage of Durga Puja celebrations at JM Sen Hall in Rahmatganj area of the city.
According to people present there, when a group of people calling themselves members of a cultural group said that they wanted to sing a song in the pandal hall, a member of the puja committee allowed it. The Economic Times quoted an eyewitness as saying that the group initially sang another song but later switched to Islamic songs. He told that singing Islamic songs spread anger among the Hindu community and the Hindus present there.
two people arrested
Puja committee chairman Asees Bhattacharya said, “We were busy welcoming the guests. Some people started singing Islamic songs.” “We will take legal action against them,” he said, without giving details. Chittagong Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Qazi Tariq Aziz said that two people have been arrested for their involvement in the incident of singing Islamic songs on the stage in the puja pavilion. Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was deported from the country, shared the video of the incident on social media. He wrote, “Islamic Jihadis singing songs at Durga Puja Pandel in Chittagong Bangladesh. What if Hindus sing Hare Ram Hare Krishna during namaz inside mosques?”
Goddess Kali's crown presented by PM Modi stolen
Earlier on Thursday, the crown of Goddess Kali was stolen from Jeshoreshwari temple in Shyamnagar, Satkhira. This crown was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the temple in March, 2021. Inspector Taijul Islam of Shyamnagar police station said, “We are examining the CCTV footage of the temple to identify the thief.” The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has expressed concern over the report of theft of the crown.
Incidents of violence against Hindus increased
Over the past few months, there have been several reports of violence against the minority Hindu community, which constitutes about 9 percent of Bangladesh's population. Incidents of violence against Hindus have increased after Sheikh Hasina's resignation amid violent student protests. India had appealed to the Bangladesh government to protect the rights of minorities and ensure peaceful religious festivals amid increasing attacks on Hindus. America has also said that it wants to protect the rights of minority communities in Bangladesh.
