Controversy Over Ram Statue Highlights Religious Freedom Gaps in Bangladesh
Dhaka, June 30 – A new controversy surrounding the construction of a large Lord Ram statue at the Shri Shri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple in Gaibandha district has brought Bangladesh’s shortcomings in religious freedom into sharp focus.
The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) reports that what began as a community‑led effort to erect a devotional monument has spiraled into a national debate. The project, led by temple founder Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, is situated on private land and financed by local Hindus. Nevertheless, it sparked widespread protests, social‑media backlash, and threats demanding the statue’s removal.
Government officials eventually ordered a halt to the construction, but HRCBM argues that the state’s response has been uneven. While police have been deployed, extremist groups continue to organise rallies and issue threats, indicating an inability or unwillingness to fully protect the minority community.
“The issue has transcended legal boundaries and become a sectarian flashpoint,” the organization said. “Some quarters portray a Hindu statue as a threat to national security, effectively criminalising ordinary religious practice.”
HRCBM’s assessment points to a broader pattern of double standards in Bangladesh’s handling of minority grievances. Accusations of blasphemy against minority groups can lead to arrests, violent mobs, displacement, and even deaths. In contrast, perceived insults to Hindu deities are often dismissed as manageable political disturbances rather than serious crimes.
The organization demands several concrete actions: robust security for the temple complex, protection of its founder and worshippers, thorough investigations of intimidation attempts, and decisive steps to prevent communal tension from escalating.
“This dispute serves as a barometer for whether the administration will truly defend constitutional rights or retreat under the pretext of maintaining public order,” HRCBM warned.
Recent protests by hard‑line Islamic organisations against the tallest Ram statue in Gaibandha, spurred by allegations of a disrespectful image of the deity, have further inflamed the situation, underscoring the fragile state of religious coexistence in the country.