On June 21st, 2025, a shocking act of violence and religious intolerance unfolded at the Mahastri (Mahesbari) Manasa & Durga Temple, under No. 5 Shashara Union of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. A group of miscreants led by Shamsun Nehar Banu (52), wife of Md. Rajaur Rahman of South Balubari; Md. Abir Khan Riyad (22), son of late Sajjad Husain Chowdhury of Katripara; Md. Nirab, son of Md. Babu of Paharpur; and 10 to 12 accomplices, stormed the temple premises with a clear and sinister motive: to desecrate the sacred space and terrorize the Hindu community.
The assailants vandalized the temple, smashed idols, and severed the head of the Goddess Manasa’s idol—an act of deep sacrilege designed to humiliate the minority community and instill fear. As the attackers fled, they threatened local Hindus with further violence, vowing to kill community members at the next opportunity.
Local residents, despite the climate of fear, bravely apprehended some of the perpetrators. They immediately informed Mr. Dhananjoy Kumar Mahanta, Divisional Coordinator of HRCBM (Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities) in Dinajpur. Mr. Mahanta rushed to the scene, documented the devastation, and ensured that the miscreants were handed over to police with the assistance of officers called via the national emergency number (999).
Institutionalized Fear Forces HRCBM to File the Case
The institutionalized fear prevalent among Bangladesh’s Hindu community—fueled by years of targeted violence, social marginalization, and systemic failures—was painfully evident in this case. The temple committee, intimidated by local Islamist forces and political pressures, refrained from filing a formal complaint (Ajahar). In response, HRCBM, as a rights organization committed to protecting minority interests, filed the case on behalf of the community to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Recognizing the community’s vulnerability, HRCBM (Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities), as a registered human rights organization, stepped forward to file the Ajahar (Formal Complaint) on behalf of the affected minority community.
This action is supported by both Bangladeshi legal provisions and international human rights principles:
Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Bangladesh), there is no restriction on who may provide information regarding a cognizable offense; any person with knowledge of such an offense—including a human rights organization—may file the complaint.
HRCBM’s filing aligns with Article 31 and Article 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, which guarantee the right to protection of law and due process for every citizen and resident.
The filing also reflects Bangladesh’s obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (Articles 2 and 26), which mandate protection against discrimination and the right to an effective remedy for rights violations.
HRCBM’s intervention further embodies the principle of locus standi recognized in public interest matters, particularly where marginalized communities are unable or unwilling to act due to fear or coercion.
By filing the case, HRCBM exercised its mandate as a human rights body to act in defense of vulnerable populations when state structures fail to protect or empower them.
Police Inaction and Alleged Coercion Undermines Justice
Despite HRCBM’s submission of a formal complaint (Ajahar) documenting a clear cognizable offense—namely, the desecration of a place of worship and threats against a minority community—the local police failed in their legal duty to register the case and initiate proper criminal proceedings. This failure represents a serious breach of both domestic and international legal obligations.
Under Bangladesh law, police officers are duty-bound to act upon receipt of information regarding a cognizable offense:
Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Bangladesh) mandates that every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offense, if given orally or in writing to an officer in charge of a police station, shall be recorded and acted upon.
The failure to register the case despite receiving a complaint from a human rights organization acting on behalf of a marginalized and threatened community constitutes a dereliction of duty, which may amount to an offense under Section 166 of the Penal Code, 1860:
“Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will, by such disobedience, cause injury to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment… or with fine, or with both.”
Furthermore, the police’s promotion of an Aposhnama (compromise deed) through the Union Parishad Chairman, Md. Humayun Kabir, despite the existence of a serious criminal offense, represents an abuse of authority and an attempt to shield offenders from prosecution, potentially constituting criminal misconduct.
From an international law perspective, this conduct violates Bangladesh’s obligations under:
Article 2(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Requires states to ensure an effective remedy for any person whose rights are violated.
Article 26 of the ICCPR: Guarantees equal protection before the law and prohibits discrimination in the application of legal remedies.
The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Law Enforcement Officials (1979): Require that police officers at all times fulfill their duty to protect human rights and uphold the law impartially.
The alleged coercion became even more apparent when HRCBM’s Dhaka office contacted Md. Marufat Hossain, Superintendent of Police, Dinajpur, seeking to ensure the case was properly registered. Rather than offering assistance, the Superintendent reportedly misbehaved, used threatening and unprofessional language, and sought to intimidate HRCBM’s Convenor, Advocate Lucky Bacchar. Such conduct is not only a violation of professional ethics but also a further obstruction of justice.
HRCBM calls for an immediate investigation into the actions of the police officials involved and demands the registration of the criminal case in accordance with the law, as well as protection for the affected community and rights defenders advocating on their behalf.
A Disturbing Pattern of Violence and State Failure
he Dinajpur temple desecration is not an isolated event. It reflects a wider and deeply troubling pattern in Bangladesh, where attacks on Hindu temples, minority homes, and properties have become increasingly frequent. Emboldened by rising religious intolerance, extremist actors exploit the prevailing atmosphere of impunity to seize minority lands, destroy places of worship, and terrorize vulnerable communities into silence or submission.
In this case, the institutionalized fear within the minority community, combined with the attitude and conduct of law enforcement officials, raises serious concerns. The refusal of police to register a formal criminal case, the promotion of an Aposhnama (compromise deed) to suppress the complaint, and the intimidation of rights advocates are not merely local failures—they point toward a wider and systemic problem.
Such conduct may reasonably give rise to the suspicion that there exists a pattern of police inaction or complicity designed to protect offenders, thereby emboldening perpetrators and encouraging further acts of religious intolerance and violence. When state institutions fail to uphold the rule of law and protect vulnerable citizens, they effectively enable those who seek to harm and dispossess minority communities.
HRCBM calls upon the government of Bangladesh, the National Human Rights Commission, and the international community to urgently examine and address this pattern of impunity, and to hold accountable those officials and actors who undermine justice and the rights of minorities.
HRCBM’s Stand for Justice
HRCBM remains steadfast in its mission to defend Bangladesh’s vulnerable minorities. By filing this case and documenting these abuses, HRCBM calls for accountability, transparency, and protection of fundamental rights. The organization appeals to national and international human rights bodies, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to take notice of these recurring crimes and press Bangladesh to uphold its obligations under international law.
HRCBM urges the Bangladesh government to immediately register the case, investigate the alleged police misconduct, and take steps to restore minority confidence in the rule of law.