Three Hindu priests in Rangpur and Pirojpur have been threatened with murder amid a spate of attacks on minorities across Bangladesh.
The priests are Bijoy Chakraborty from Rangpur, and Ruhidas Pal and Salil Mukherjee Sibu from Pirojpur.
Our district correspondents say the priests have informed police about the development and filed general diaries on Monday.
In Rangpur, Bijoy, priest at a temple in Rangpur city's College Road area, told the Dhaka Tribune that one of the temple disciples found a letter addressed to him in a yellow envelope on the temple floor on Monday morning.
The letter, unsigned, warned Bijoy to be prepared for sudden death.
The disciple gave the letter to Bijoy, who informed police right away.
This incident has created panic among the more than 100 Hindu families who live in the same neighbourhood, Bijoy added.
“We are looking into the matter,” said ABM Zahidul Islam, OC at Rangpur Kotwali police station. “We are working to find out who sent the letter. We have also taken steps to ensure tight security in the temple and the surrounding area.”
In Pirojpur, Ruhidas Pal, a priest at Palpara Durga-Kali Temple, found a letter on the temple floor on Sunday night, threatening him with murder, said Narendranath Roy, secretary of the temple.
The letter also read: “The killing mission is in Pirojpur now. You don't need to know who we are… All Hindu priests, leaders and employed persons will be killed one by one.”
“He informed me of the matter, which I relayed to Pirojpur Deputy Commissioner Md Khairul Alam next morning,” Narendranath told the Dhaka Tribune.
The other priest, Salil, from Central Kali Temple in Pirojpur town, said he found an envelope in the temple on Monday morning. “I found a letter inside it that said I would be killed.”
He immediately informed the temple management committee and police about the letter.
Pirojpur Sadar police station OC Masumur Rahman confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. “We have filed general diaries regarding the threats and have tightened security for the priests.”
Man threatens to kill priest's assistant in Patuakhali
An unidentified man has threatened to kill a priest's assistant at Deshbondhu Bishwakalyan Geeta Ashram in Baufal upazila, Patuakhali, our district correspondent reported on Monday.
The man, donning a rain coat, approached the assistant, Paritosh Saha, 70, at the temple on Monday morning and said, “Your days are over. Get ready to die,” said Baufal police station OC Azam Khan Faruki.
“We are considering this incident with high priority,” the OC said. “Special security measures have been put in place in the temple area.”
