Hindu temples get 'threat letters' in Bangladesh: 'Pay Tk 5 lakh or ...'

Durga Puja celebration. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The leaders of several Durga Puja celebration committees in Bangladesh have received anonymous threat letters urging them to cough up Tk 5 lakh, Daily Star, a Bangladeshi English language daily reported on September 23.

Several Hindu temples located in Khulna’s Dakop area received such letters warning that they won’t be allowed to celebrate Duga Puja if a toll of Tk 5 lakh is not paid. The leaders of the puja committees were reportedly also warned of severe consequences if they do not pay up the sum.

On September 20, some committee representatives filed a complaint at the Dakop Police Station. Sirajul Islam, the officer-in-charge, said, “The GD was filed by four temples on Friday … We are investigating the matter... We are patrolling regularly along with the army team.”

Leaders of the Hindu community in Bangladesh raised concerns over receiving such threat letters with many of them even considering cancelling festivities. According to the report, one of the leaders revealed that a meeting was held after receiving the letters, wherein several members of the Hindu community expressed their desire to not hold celebrations this year.

Daily Star quoted Shekhar Chandra Goldar, president, Kamarkhola Sarvajanin Durga Puja Celebration Committee, Dakop, as saying, “Our members are no longer interested. This year we have to stop the puja.”

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Three letters reviewed by the publication revealed the same content that read, “If you want to perform Durga Puja in 2024, you will have to pay Tk five lakh. Otherwise, you will not be able to worship in any way.”

The letters also mentioned that whoever shares them with the authorities or the press would be “cut to pieces”.