Dhaka [Bangladesh], June 28 (ANI): The Bangladesh government on Friday clarified the circumstances surrounding the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area, stating that the temple was built without permission on land owned by Bangladesh Railways.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on railway land during Durga Puja last year without prior approval. Although the railway authority later granted temporary permission, the organizers failed to dismantle the structure after the celebrations, violating the agreed terms.
“The fact remains that last year, during Durga Puja, without having prior permission, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on a piece of land that is undisputedly owned by Bangladesh Railways. Later, the railway authority extended permission with the condition that, as soon as the Puja celebration was over, the organizers would remove the makeshift Mandap. Regrettably, after the Puja was over in October 2024, the organizers declined to remove the structure, violating the mutual agreement. Rather, they established a ‘Maha Kali’ (Kali Murti) there,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry further explained that despite repeated reminders, the organizers attempted to convert the temporary Mandap into a permanent structure, disregarding their arrangement with railway authorities.
“In December 2024, railway authorities held consultations with local community representatives and the organizers of the Mandap and issued a public notification asking all concerned to remove unauthorized installations, including vendors, hundreds of shops, and political party offices illegally built on either side of the rail tracks owned by Bangladesh Railway in the area,” the statement noted.
The ministry emphasized that the land is owned by Bangladesh Railways, which designates 200 feet from the existing rail track as exclusive railway property. The area is part of an ongoing infrastructure project to construct two additional rail lines.
“Basically, 200 feet from the cast of the existing rail track is solely the land of Bangladesh Railway. This is also to mention that two more rail tracks are being constructed under a project titled, ‘Construction of 3rd & 4th DG line in Dhaka-Tongi section and Doubling of Dual Gauge line in Tongi-Joydebpur section of Bangladesh Railway,’ and this piece of land was a dire need to complete the new lines under this project,” the statement added.
The ministry highlighted that repeated reminders to vacate the land went unheeded.
The Bangladesh government emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship, but also stressed that constructing religious structures on public land without authorization is not permitted.
“On June 24 and 25, Bangladesh Railways finally asked all to remove all unauthorized installations, including the Puja organizers to remove the temporarily built Mandap. Finally, on June 26, following due process, Bangladesh Railways proceeded to the peaceful eviction of all unauthorized structures along the rail track in the Khilkhet area. In the course of the eviction process, the idol from the makeshift Mandap was immersed in the nearby Balu River, in due reverence, with the participation of members of the local Hindu community,” the ministry stated.
The government reiterated that removal of unauthorized structures to recover public land is a routine administrative activity. While laws protect all places of worship built in accordance with regulations, it is unlawful to build religious structures on public land under any circumstances.
“The organizers of the makeshift Mandap clearly exploited the trust and goodwill of the Railway authorities by violating their own agreement,” the statement added.
However, minority organizations in Bangladesh held protests, condemning the demolition and alleging that authorities did not provide adequate notice to the community.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticized the interim government of Bangladesh for the demolition on Thursday, stating that it failed to protect the temple and instead framed the issue as one of illegal land use.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We understand that extremists were clamoring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka. The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use, and they allowed the destruction of the temple today. This has resulted in damage to the deity before it was shifted.”
“Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus’ properties and religious institutions,” he added. (ANI)
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