A human rights organization strongly criticized the halt of an 81-foot-tall Lord Ram statue construction at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple in Gaibandha district, Bangladesh. The project was stopped due to pressure from Islamist extremist groups, concerns about potential violence, and the safety of the Hindu minority community. The group emphasized that this action violated religious freedom, freedom of expression, and the rights of religious minorities as protected by Bangladesh’s Constitution and international human rights declarations.
The Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expressed worry over the suspension of the Ram statue project following protests and pressure from local Islamist groups. The temple authorities announced the construction’s suspension on June 12 amid mounting opposition. The JMBF also raised concerns about limited media coverage of the incident in Bangladesh, citing fears of violence, extremist reactions, and risks to journalists’ safety leading to self-censorship by some media outlets.
The JMBF founder President, Shahanur Islam, condemned the incident, highlighting Bangladesh’s constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and equal rights. He criticized the rise of Islamist extremist groups and the discrimination against religious minorities under the current government. The JMBF urged the Bangladeshi government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, ensure the security of religious minorities, and uphold freedom of religion and expression.
The rights group stressed the importance of protecting religious freedom, expression, and the security of minorities in a democratic state. It warned that yielding to extremist pressure undermines democracy, the rule of law, and human rights foundations. The JMBF called for the government to fulfill its obligations to safeguard these fundamental rights and investigate the suspension of the Lord Ram statue construction in Bangladesh.
