POBNEWS24, Dhaka Sept 21, 2025 : The police have blamed the wind for the idol vandalism in Gazipur, Bangladesh. Instead of taking action against those who publicly attacked four shrines in Comilla, they have filed cases against unknown people. Filing cases against hundreds of unknown people in various incidents is not new in Bangladesh.
These cases are a great opportunity for the police, and they are accused of arbitrarily ‘trading cases’ using that opportunity. But with the continuous attacks on numerous shrines in various places over the past year, is it possible to stop the attacks by filing cases against unknown people in the same old style? Or is the ‘special exemption’ of the attackers an inviolable destiny?
What message does blaming the entire temple attack on the wind send to the attackers? Should such attacks be stopped? Or is it ongoing, let it continue?
The incident of idol vandalism took place in Kasimpur, Gazipur on Wednesday afternoon. Pradeep Majumdar, general secretary of Kashimpur Agragami Yuva Sangha Sarbajanin Durga Puja Mandap, said, “We were in the mandap. But when everyone went out for food around 1:30 pm, the miscreants vandalized the idols and fled. When the guards went inside to light the lamps in the evening, they found the idol vandalized.”
But the night after this incident, Gazipur Metropolitan Police’s Konabari Zone Assistant Police Commissioner Abu Naser Md. Al Amin told the news media, “It was raining and windy all day. The idol broke in the wind, nothing else.” When asked to explain his statement on Friday afternoon, he told the media, “Actually, that’s what I thought at the time. It was raining earlier. I thought it might break in the wind. Because, the people of the mandap did not let us see the idol in the beginning, they covered it. Even in the video they gave us, I didn’t think it meant major vandalism. That’s why I said that.”
However, he said that although it seemed to have been broken in the wind at first, a case was finally filed. “Now a case has been filed against unknown persons. We are investigating. Those who are guilty will be brought to justice.” He also said that “the security of the mandap has been ensured.”
However, regarding his statement and role, Pradeep Kumar Majumdar said, “That police officer made up a story. As a result, I don’t understand who broke it. Now the police are guarding it round the clock.”
Since the preparations for Durga Puja began, there have been complaints of idol vandalism in at least seven districts of the country. These include Panchagarh, Gaibandha, Faridpur, Madaripur, Kushtia, Netrokona and Gazipur. Even though there is vandalism, the government and the police are not taking it seriously.
At a meeting held at the Secretariat on September 8 on law and order during Durga Puja, Home Affairs Advisor Lt. General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, “The puja mandap will be under observation for 24 hours. This time, these things will not happen at the fair. Marijuana and liquor gatherings will not be allowed.”
President of the Puja Udjavan Parishad, Basudeb Dhar, said, “The government has assured us that steps will be taken regarding the vandalism of idols. Security has also been increased at various mandap sites.”
However, he said that so far, the police have not received any information that anyone involved in the vandalism of idols has been arrested.
Preparations for Durga Puja are underway at more than 33,000 puja mandap sites across the country. Ansars will be present at the mandap sites. There will also be a police patrol team. In a meeting at the police headquarters on October 17, IG Baharul Alam said, “The upcoming Durga Puja will be celebrated safely and beautifully. The police will be on high alert for the security of the puja mandap.
Continuation of attacks on shrines
A case has been filed against 2,200 unidentified persons after four shrines were attacked simultaneously in Homna upazila of Comilla. The attacks were carried out for a long time by announcing on microphones on charges of insulting religion. Since Thursday morning, people identified as ‘Tawhidi Janata’ set fire to the shrines of Kafil Uddin Shah and Hawali Shah in Asadpur village of Homna and attacked and vandalized the shrines of Kalai Shah and Abdu Shah. Md. Monir Hossain, a devotee of Kafil Shah who was attacked, said, “I somehow survived.
185 shrines, khankas attacked and set on fire so far
Aftab Alam Jilani, spokesperson for the World Sufi Organization, told the media, “We went to Homna after the incident. The situation there was terrible. 15 more shrines were listed for attack. But when the law enforcement agencies were alerted after the attack on four shrines, they could not do it.”
“As per our latest count, 185 shrines, khankas have been attacked and set on fire so far. More threats are being made continuously. Our personal lives are also becoming miserable. In fact, this is a planned conspiracy to wipe out Sufism in Bangladesh,” he said.
It is alleged that the main perpetrators of the attack on the Dargah of Nural Pagla in Goalanda and the burning of his body have not yet been arrested. The attack there was also announced in advance. One person was killed in the attack. Azad Mollah, the father of the deceased Russell Mollah (27), filed a case with Goalanda Ghat police station accusing 3,500 unknown people. It is alleged that the planners of the attack or the actual attackers have not been arrested there either.
There is a video of the Homna incident in Comilla. Everyone knows who attacked and set fire to it. Still, a case has been filed against 2,200 unknown people.
Is the government cheating?
Human rights activist Nur Khan said, “The police still give the same statements as they used to give before August 5 last year. At that time, if a crime was committed, they would say BNP or Jamaat did it. And now they say Awami League did it. How can the police say without being sure that the idol was broken in the air?”
DW
