B'desh Temples Vandalised During Durga Puja; 4 Killed

43 Held For Violence; PM Sheikh Hasina Says Attackers Won’t Be Spared

Dhaka: Some Hindu temples in Bangladesh have been vandalised by unidentified people during Durga Puja celebrations, prompting the government to deploy paramilitary force in 22 districts after four people were killed and many others injured in riots, media reports said on Thursday.

A home ministry spokesperson said that the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) troops have been deployed in 22 districts across the country to stop the spread of violence. The elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the armed police were also ordered to be on guard with the BGB in 22 of the 64 administrative districts and elsewhere to contain any violence, he said.

According to media reports, four people were killed in clashes between Muslim bigots and the police at Hajiganj subdistrict in Chandpur, bordering Cumilla, on Wednesday. Two others were critically injured. The police said some of their personnel were also injured as the mob attacked them and vandalised their and local administrators’ cars. The police, however, did not explain if the casualties were caused due to police actions. Local reports said the police had opened fire on a mob of over 500 people. Authorities have enforced a ban on rallies in Haziganj.