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Construction of Sanatan Dharma Complex halted due to pressure from radicals

  • Incident in Gaibandha District of Bangladesh

  • Construction of a 53-foot-tall idol of Shriram and 144 other idols was underway

  • Allegations of project being supported by India’s intelligence agency

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Radical Islamic groups from Bangladesh, as well as from France and the United States, are demanding the demolition of the ‘Sanatan Dharma Complex’ being constructed in Gaibandha District of Rangpur Division. Yielding to this pressure, the Government of Bangladesh has ordered the construction of the complex to be halted.

The formal inauguration of the 53-foot-tall idol of Shriram at the site had been performed on 25 November 2025 by Mr Manoj Kumar, Assistant High Commissioner of India in Rajshahi. The complex was planned to include idols of Shriram and Shiv (28 feet tall), along with 144 idols of various Deities. Hindus in Bangladesh had earlier informed a Sanatan Prabhat correspondent that the project was facing strong opposition from radical Muslims.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, Senior Editor of the Weekly Blitz in Dhaka, had previously written a detailed article regarding this matter. He stated that the project, initiated by local philanthropist Mr Haridas Babu, had gradually evolved into a major religious and architectural complex.

Radicals inciting destruction of idols in the Sanatan Dharma Complex on 19 June

Choudhury appealed to Indian media, saying, “Please help protect the idols of Shriram, Shiv and Shrikrishna in Bangladesh. Islamists and jihadis in Bangladesh, with direct support from Pakistan’s ISI, have already succeeded in halting the construction of the Sanatan Complex. It is now being reported that they are planning to attack the site on 19 June and vandalise the idols.”

Islamists in Bangladesh are using social media to call for the idols to be “beheaded”. Some are going even further by urging supporters to climb onto the idols and urinate on them before destroying them.

When a Sanatan Prabhat correspondent discussed the matter with some devout Hindus in Gazipur, Bangladesh, they said that there was little doubt that a mob of 4,000 to 5,000 Muslims could march on the complex and vandalise the idols.

Why oppose one Hindu complex when there are millions of mosques across the country? – Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin has spoken out against the government’s decision. She said that Bangladesh has lakhs of mosques and that new mosques continue to be constructed throughout the country. She questioned why there was such strong opposition to the construction of a single Shriram temple or a statue of Shriram. “If religious freedom truly exists for everyone, then it should apply equally to minorities and not only to the majority,” she said.

Nasrin further said that the threats, inflammatory statements and hate campaigns being directed against the Shriram temple are deeply concerning. Merely disliking a place of worship does not give any individual or group the right to destroy it. In a country governed by the rule of law, religious disagreements should not be resolved through violence or vandalism.

She emphasised that the situation is particularly worrying given the history of attacks on Hindu temples and idols in Palashbari. These incidents have left the Hindu minority community feeling insecure. Nasrin also pointed out that many Muslim-majority countries around the world, including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Oman, have large Hindu temples. The existence of such temples is not viewed as a threat to the state in those countries. She questioned why the construction of a single temple in Bangladesh is being viewed by some Muslims as an existential threat.

Serious allegations being made against the complex

1. Alleged expansion of Indian influence: Radical Muslim groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, France, the United States and other countries are opposing the Gaibandha Religious Complex. An online campaign has been launched portraying it as an alleged expansion of Indian influence.

2. Funding allegedly provided by India’s intelligence agency R&AW: Without presenting any credible evidence, allegations have been made that Mr Harishchandra Taroni Das, the caretaker of the project, has links with Indian intelligence agencies. It is also being alleged that India’s intelligence agency R&AW provided funding for the project.

3. The same groups that campaign against ISKCON: Interestingly, the same Islamic groups have been accused of conducting campaigns against ISKCON in Bangladesh and of playing a role in the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

4. Calls for jihad against India and implementation of “Ghazwa-e-Hind”: These groups are calling for jihad against India, advocating the realisation of “Ghazwa-e-Hind” (the Islamisation of India), and urging the commencement of genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Choudhury expresses fears in his article

Choudhury stated that unless timely action is taken, Bangladesh could be transformed into a slaughterhouse for Hindus, and a new wave of violence or even genocide could begin at any moment. It is now being said that, following the government’s order halting construction, it would not be surprising if attacks against Hindus begin.

How propaganda is being spread using the temple construction issue

Misinformation campaign being carried out by fundamentalists in Bangladesh

Through Facebook and other social media platforms, radical Muslims are spreading misinformation. They claim,

1. Devout Hindus dream of creating an “Akhand Bharat”. Even if they do not succeed in achieving it, they will certainly attempt to fulfil their dream of gaining control over Bangladesh. Why should the Sanatan Complex be located so close to India’s “Chicken Neck Corridor” in North Bengal? The complex, being built at a cost of 22 crore taka, already contains the country’s largest idol of Shriram (53 feet tall), an idol of Shiv (28 feet tall) and 144 idols of various Deities.

2. While representing the minorities, Hindus, who are only 6 per cent of the population, are challenging the 93 per cent Muslim majority of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Muslims remain asleep dreaming of Ghazwa-e-Hind. It truly seems that misfortune has been written into the destiny of Muslims in this country.

3. The same Shriram for whose temple the Babri Masjid was demolished in India is now having a statue erected here on an open site.

Editorial Perspective

India should question Bangladesh for halting the construction of Hindu temples after yielding to pressure from radical Islamic groups, despite presenting itself as a secular nation. For this, the devout Hindu organisations in India should exert pressure on the government.

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