Miscreants on Thursday vandalized idols at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja pavilion in the Batrish area of Kishoreganj town.
Local residents said that the intruders destroyed all the idols at the Gopinath Sangh pavilion.
The akhara’s gates were locked, and five guards, who had been awake until 3am, had fallen asleep. Taking advantage of this, the miscreants scaled the walls and broke in to vandalize the idols.
Upon receiving news of the incident, local authorities, including the deputy commissioner, police superintendent, and army personnel, visited the scene to assess the damage.
Following the incident, the district administration convened an emergency meeting where leaders from the Hindu community demanded immediate action to identify and arrest those responsible.
In response to the vandalism, Hindu community members staged a protest march later that day, moving through various streets before gathering in front of the district commissioner's office.
Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Khan and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury addressed the crowd, assuring them that steps would be taken to apprehend the culprits.
Litton Sarkar, president of the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja celebration committee, expressed deep distress over the incident, saying: "This was our first time organizing Durga Puja at this akhara. Such vandalism has never happened here before. Those responsible seek to disrupt communal harmony and should be swiftly identified and arrested."
Narayan Dutta Pradeep, president of the district Puja Celebration Committee, echoed the sentiment, saying: "The vandalism has left the Hindu community heartbroken. Everyone is now in a state of fear. If such acts continue, how can we celebrate our religious festivals?"
The superintendent of police assured the public that law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing the miscreants.
"We are taking a firm stance. The culprits will be arrested swiftly, and we hope Durga Puja can be celebrated safely and festively," he said.
An urgent meeting was held at the collectorate office, led by District Commissioner Fouzia Khan, which included senior officials from the police, army, and RAB.
During this meeting, Hindu leaders reiterated their demand for the arrest of those involved in the vandalism.
In 2024, 363 Durga Puja pavilions are planned across 13 upazilas in Kishoreganj. In light of the recent incident, the district administration has increased security measures at all Puja pavilions to ensure a safe celebration.
