ISKCON Vice-President Radharaman Das wrote to the United Nations on Saturday, condemning a mob attack on ISKCON devotees in Bangladesh’s Noakhali and the killing of an ashram devotee Partha Das, requesting that the UN issued a statement condemning “violence against the Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.” He also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that he intervene in the case. Das described how a crowd of over 200 people stormed its Noakhali premises and ‘unleased terror for 3 hours,’ hurting numerous people and vandalizing the temple. ‘All the idols have been shattered, the letter further mentioned.
He further stated that the attacks against Hindu minorities had continued unabated for the past 9 days. Das pleaded to the world community and the Bangladesh government to intervene. “ISKCON temple and devotees were viciously attacked today by a crowd in Noakhali, Bangladesh,” according to an ISKCON statement. The temple was severely damaged, and a devotee’s condition is still critical. We demand that the Bangladeshi government secure the safety of all Hindus and prosecute the offenders, the statement further informed.
Devotees in Bangladesh’s Noakhali conducted a silent protest as well. Several local media reports stated that Durga Puja pandals and idols in Bangladesh have recently been vandalised. After a rumour propagated on social media about vandalism of Durga idols in Commila town, temples in Chandpur’s Hajiganj, Chattogram’s Banshkhali, and Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua reported violence.