Terrorists Attack ISKCON Temple in Chittagong, Bangladesh

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Terrorists Attack ISKCON Temple in Chittagong, Bangladesh

By ISKCON News Weekly Staff on 23 May 2009

An update to this story may be read here.

On May 18, ISKCON News Weekly received a distraught message from an obviously emotional monk at ISKCON’s Nandankanan Sri Sri Gour Nitai Ashram in Chittagong, the main seaport of Bangladesh.

On May 14 at 3pm, the devotee said, he and his peers were busy preparing for a weekend festival when fifty to sixty terrorists burst into the temple, brandishing knives and iron bars. They first destroyed the kitchens, devotee accommodation, and Gaura Nitai deities. Then, as the devotees ran into the temple courtyard in a panic, the attackers poured boiling water on them from the balcony, badly burning many.

The terrorists also stole ten to twelve thousand taka (Bangladesh’s monetary unit) from the temple donation box, as well as a further ten thousand from individual residents. Devotees phoned the nearby police station again and again, but to no avail.

“Their negligence of duty came at a terrible cost,” Chinmoydham Dasa said in his message to ISKCON News. “Many devotees were injured and had to be brought to the hospital’s emergency room.”

By the time the police finally arrived, the terrorists had caused 80,000 taka worth of damage. Neither did they seem remotely intimidated by the presence of law enforcement. And it was soon clear why. When the terrorists threatened the devotees, “You must all leave now and hand the temple over to us!” the police remained silent, not voicing any defense.

“For this crime of the police, thousands of devotees took to the streets to protest,” Chinmoydham said. He explains that after this, the police eventually took out a case against the attackers.

Chinmoydham’s report was in broken English, and it is unsure what group the terrorists belonged to, or what exactly happened when the police arrived, although it appears that the temple remains unsafe for the devotees. More detailed news on the attack and current situation will be reported as it comes in.

Reader Comments:

Rick, there is no mention of

Submitted by Hari on 10 June, 2009 - 16:53.

Rick, there is no mention of Islam in this article because that is presumably not known.

It seems a safe assumption to say that in a nation mostly composed of Muslims, violence on a Hindu establishment was perpetrated by Muslims.

That is a safe assumption, but it is not a fact. Reporting that as a fact is a crime of libel, the charges of which vary under local laws.

Dear Editor, Could you

Submitted by Anil on 26 May, 2009 - 16:22.

Dear Editor, Could you please initiate an on line petition to President/Home Minister of Bangladesh asking justice to be done and provide us link so we can sign it. I could not find President's contact detail but Home Minister's detail is:
Honourable Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun, Home Minister of Bangladesh, Telephone +880 2 7169069, Email: minister@mha.gov.bd
Copies also can be send to local Bangladesh High Commission/Consulates Outside Bangladesh.

This is not surprising as it

Submitted by Jimmy on 26 May, 2009 - 04:57.

This is not surprising as it is not an isolated incident. Human rights and freedoms are not forthcoming to Hindus in most countries.

In Bangladesh:

1) In 1947, Hindus constituted nearly 30% of Bangladesh’s population. By 1991, 20
million Hindus were “missing” from Bangladesh. Today, Hindus comprise less than
10% of the population.

2) Hindus of Bangladesh continue to be victims of ethnic cleansing waged by Islamic
fundamentalists that include daily acts of murder, rape, kidnappings, temple
destruction and physical intimidation.

3) Human rights activists and journalists are continuously harassed and abused in
Bangladesh. 258 acts of murder, rape, kidnappings, temple destruction and land grabs targeting Hindus have been recorded in this report at the Hindu American Foundation for the nine months in 2008 for which data is available.

4) Nearly 1.2 million or 44% of the 2.7 million Hindu households in the country were affected by the Enemy Property Act 1965 and its post-independence version, the Vested Property Act 1974.

It is sad that the Hare

Submitted by Anil on 26 May, 2009 - 04:29.

It is sad that the Hare Krisna Devotees who are at the forefront of offering peace and love to others are being targeted here. World must find a solution to this on going problem which is being repeated times and again everywhere on this earth with same intention and motivation.

Hope to hear more updates on

Submitted by Gopapatni dd=>:) on 25 May, 2009 - 22:22.

Hope to hear more updates on this crime against devotees,and Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda. Is there some info on how we can write to authorities there? This must not go unnoticed by authorities...