Construction of Sanatan Dharma Complex halted due to threats in Bangladesh

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Radical Islamic groups in Bangladesh, France and USA, are demanding the demolition of the Sanatan Dharma Complex being constructed in Gaibandha District of Rangpur Division. Yielding to this pressure, the Government of Bangla-desh has ordered the construction of the complex to be halted.

The formal inauguration of the 53-foot-tall Murti of Shriram at the site had been performed on 25th November 2025 by Mr Manoj Kumar, Assistant High Commissioner of India in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. 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 written a detailed article on this matter.

Radicals inciting destruction of Murtis on 19^th June

Choudhury appealed to Indian media, ‘Please help protect the Murtis of Shriram, Shiva and Shrikrishna in Bangladesh’. 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.

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^th June and vandalise the Murtis. Islamists in Bangladesh are using social media to call for the Murtis to be beheaded.

Some are going even further by urging supporters to climb onto the Murtis 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 Murtis.

Why oppose one Hindu complex when there are lakhs of mosques across the country ? : Taslima Nasrin

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin 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 Murti 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.

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin

How propaganda is being spread using the temple construction issue

Through Facebook and other social media platforms, radical Muslims claim that :

1. Devout Hindus dream of creating an Akhand Bharat (Undivided India). Even if they do not succeed in achieving it, they will certainly attempt to fulfil their dream of gaining control over Bangladesh.

2. While representing the minorities, Hindus, who are only 6% of the population, are challenging the 93% Muslim majority. 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.

In response, thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus organized massive torchlight marches, human chains, and rallies at major locations like the Shahbagh intersection, Dhaka University, and Jagannath University. Chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” they issued a strict 72-hour ultimatum to the government demanding the immediate arrest of those behind the desecration.