Every temple committee must pay Tk. 5 lakh if they want to worship Durga Puja – Puja celebration committee leaders of multiple temples received such unanimous letters delivered via government postal service in Dacope upazilla, Khulna district. The letters also contained threat that they will be ‘slaughtered’ if the police administration or the journalists are informed on the letter. The local Hindus are worried since the receipt of these letters. Some temples have decided not to celebrate puja.

Since Wednesday September 18, the letters by mail started arriving to various temple’s president and general secretary. Yesterday Friday four different temple committees have filed police case (General diary as it is known in Bangladesh) on these incidents with Decope police station.

The general secretary of a temple committee on condition of anonymity told the Prothom Alo that they held a meeting with the people of the area at night after receiving the letter on Wednesday. Most of the people there are in favor of not doing the puja worshiping. Later they altogether decided to perform the puja. From now on they are guarding the area every day on security concern. However, some temple committees have decided not to perform the puja.

Shekhar Chandra Goldar, President of Kamarkhola Sarvajanin Durga Puja Celebration Committee of Dakop, told Prothom Alo, “This year, there was a discussion of doing puja on a very small scale instead of grandiose puja.” But after receiving such letters, our members are no longer interested. This year we have to stop the puja.

Victims: Hindu people of Dacope upazilla

Location of attack: Dacope upazilla, Khulna district, Bangladesh

Date of attack: start date is Wednesday, September 18 , 2024

Source: Published on September 21, 2024 by Prothom Alo, a daily newspaper

Source link: https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/bnxf4vdfb3