The interim government of Bangladesh and the Muslim bodies have denied permission to Hindus to celebrate Durga Puja across the country, citing poor security arrangements and threats. The puja committees have been asked to maintain silence during Namaaz offerings.
The directives came amid reports of Durga idol vandalism in several locations across the nation. On Thursday early morning, a brand new idol of the Goddess was vandalized in Kishoreganj’s Batfish Gopinath Jeru Akhara.
In the Comilla district, a newly constructed Durga idol was vandalized, and the temple’s donation box was looted.
Two days ago, the Islamists attacked a Durga temple in Mirapara in the Narail district.
However, top government sources said the puja committees were asked to pay Rs 5 lakh each as ‘jizya’ taxes via written communications starting from October 9 ahead of Durga Puja.
The developments came to the fore when the nation’s interim government announced recalling five envoys on Wednesday, including the ambassador to neighboring India, in a significant diplomatic reshuffle, people familiar with the matter said.
An official said on condition of anonymity that the foreign ministry ordered envoys in Brussels, Canberra, Lisbon, and New Delhi, as well as the permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, to return to the capital, Dhaka.
