As Durga Puja approaches, radical Islamic groups have warned Bangladesh's Hindu minority to not openly celebrate the festival and engage in any idol worship or immersion.

Insaf Keemkari Chhatra-Janta, a radical Islamic group, staged a protest in Dhaka's sector 13 against the use of a playground by the Hindu community for the Durga Puja celebrations.

The area had been used by the community for many years. However as tensions rise between religious groups in the country, several Islamic groups have called for restrictions on celebrating the Hindu festival, the report said.

Holding up placards in Bangla that read “no worship anywhere by closing roads, no pollution to water by idol immersion, no worship to idols”, the protesting group presented a 16-point list of demands citing environmental damage, use of government funds for religious activity and disruption as reasons to stop celebrating Durga Puja.

One of their issues was that Durga Puja had been made a national holiday despite Hindus only making up two per cent of the population. They claimed that the festival caused a nuisance for the Muslim majority and also stated that Muslims should not support such festivals for religious reasons.

Their demands also included a call to remove temples “built by occupying many special lands in Bangladesh”. Another demand asks all temples to have anti-India banners and slogans for Hindu citizens to prove their loyalty to Bangladesh and their anti-India sentiments.

Reports of temple vandalism and idol destruction have increased, heightening the anxiety of the community.

In Khulna, Hindu citizens told, they were being asked to pay 5 lakh Bangladeshi taka to celebrate Durga Puja

Despite assurances from Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of the interim government, the Hindu community in Bangladesh has faced a surge in attacks on life and property after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

Source: Hindustan Times