MOFA (Ministry of foreign affairs) Press Release

        Updated position paper on the attacks on Hindu religious sites

When the people of Bangladesh were celebrating the Durga Puja, one of the biggest festivities in
Bangladesh, in a joyous mood, there emerged reports of attacks on Hindu religious sites and idols
in six districts of the country. The Government of Bangladesh unequivocally condemned those
incidents and took serious note of the reactions from within and outside the Hindu community. As
an immediate response and also a precautionary measure, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)
forces were deployed in 37 districts of the country in aid of the civilian administration.
The perpetrators have been arrested and they are now in custody undergoing legal processes. Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all concerned to exercise restraint under any provocation and to
refrain from spreading or acting on unfounded rumours. She called upon all to maintain communal
harmony at any cost. Senior government leaders visited affected sites, and assured the Hindu
community members of adequate protection and compensation for the damages incurred. In many
cases, compensation has already been given. Cases have been filed in connection with all incidents.
The Government of Bangladesh is concerned over the flurry of misinformation being propagated
in different international media and blatant lies floating on social media concerning alleged death
and cases of rapes involving the Hindu community in Bangladesh. This is sheer travesty of truth
and must not be entertained by any quarters at home and abroad for any political or otherwise
expediency. Two persons from Hindu community died, one from natural causes and one from
drowning. No temple or mondir was destroyed nor anyone from the Hindu community was raped.
Later on it was known that the arsons targeting some poor households were actually carried out
due to local political rivalries. However, the Government promptly acted to rebuild more than 20
houses and offered compensation to all those who were affected. The compensation included cash
assistance, food, cloths, other essential commodities as well as construction materials. Law
enforcement forces were dispatched immediately on the first information.

In this context, the Government would like to reiterate that communal harmony and peaceful co-
existence are cornerstones of our democratic polity. For centuries, people from different faiths,

ethnicities and religions have been living in this land in peace and harmony with full understanding
of each other’s faiths.
Our long-standing commitment to tolerance and inclusion is safeguarded by our Constitutional
provisions. While the supreme law of the land guarantees protection of all its citizens from any
kind of discrimination and intolerance, the democratic governance of the country also ensures
enjoyment of fundamental rights by its citizens irrespective of their religions, beliefs and ethnicity.
The Government of Bangladesh strongly upholds that every religious community has the right to
establish, maintain and manage its own religious institutions and to perform religious rituals.
2021-10-29 https://mofa.gov.bd/site/press_release/d70293ec-b36f-4ef0-b34d-2dcc999acd96

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