Hill Voice, 12 October 2019, Dhaka, Bangladesh:  A number of incidents of vandalizing and ransacking of Durga idols have allegedly been committed by miscreants during the Durga Puja this year too in different parts of Bangladesh. Durga Puja is one of the biggest religious festivals of Bengali Hindu community.

On 1 October 2019 at night a group of Bengali Muslim youths numbering seven to eight, suddenly appearing at Radha Ballav Durga Temple in Bhadai Club Bazar area of Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district, started vandalizing the statue of Durga. However, at a stage, the locals caught a youth named Nur Islam Pacha, 25, son of Shamser Ali of Shibbari village red handed on the spot. Other culprits managed to flee the scene. The culprit Nur Islam Pacha was later handed over to the police of Aditmari Police Station. It is also learnt that on 2 October 2019 a case was filed with the police station in this connection.

On 3 October 2019 some idols at a Durga Puja mandap of Ishwargram village of Muktagachha upazila under Mymensingh district were ransacked by the miscreants. Later a group of police led by Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ali Mahmud of Muktagachha Police Station visited the spot. But none is yet to be arrested till preparing the report.

On 11 October 2019 at late night miscreants made an attack on the Durga temple at village of Char Boro Baria Purbo Para of Chitalmari upazila under Bagherhat district and vandalized seven statues including that of the Durga. On information, Additional Police Super Mahafuz Abzal visited the spot. But none of the culprits is yet to be arrested. However, a case was filed with Chitalmari Police Station in this regard by Mr. Nripen Boidyo, the president of Temple Committee.