Bangladesh Hindu leaders demand release of Ram statue proposer Tarani Das
Synopsis
A man who proposed building an 81-foot Lord Ram statue at a Bangladesh temple was arrested on an alleged money laundering charge — days after extremist groups had campaigned against the project. Hindu leaders say the timing is no coincidence, and the case has reignited a wider reckoning over minority rights in Bangladesh.
Key Takeaways
Haridas Chandra Tarani Das was reportedly arrested on 12 July in connection with an alleged money laundering case at Uttara West Police Station, Dhaka .
He had proposed an 81-foot-tall Lord Ram statue at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple in Palashbari upazila, Gaibandha district .
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council held a protest rally outside the Jatiya Press Club, Dhaka on 18 July demanding his release.
The council also renewed calls for the release of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das , imprisoned since November 2024 .
The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) condemned the arrest, citing weeks of extremist threats preceding it.
Several leaders of the Hindu community in Bangladesh on Saturday, 18 July demanded the immediate release of Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, the man who proposed building an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple in Palashbari upazila of Gaibandha district. Tarani Das was reportedly taken into custody on 12 July in connection with an alleged money laundering case registered at Uttara West Police Station in Dhaka, according to local media reports.
Protest Outside Jatiya Press Club
The demands were voiced at a protest rally organised by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council — a human rights body working against religious discrimination — held outside the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. Demonstrators urged the Bangladeshi government to safeguard religious freedom, halt what they described as 'attacks' on minority communities, and end 'interference' in the construction of places of worship, according to The Daily Star, Bangladesh's leading English-language newspaper.
What Community Leaders Said
Addressing the rally, the council's General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath alleged that authorities had unfairly arrested Tarani Das, noting that the temple had been under construction for a considerable period before the detention. Nath also demanded the release of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who has been imprisoned in Bangladesh since November 2024.
The council's Vice-President Nirmal Rozario separately appealed to the government to uphold constitutional rights and ensure the security and religious freedom of minority communities across the country.
Background: Communal Opposition to the Ram Statue
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council alleged that extremist communal groups had opposed the proposed Lord Ram statue for a considerable period, offending the religious sentiments of the Hindu community and stoking what it called 'unwarranted religious hostility.' The council expressed grave concern that Bangladeshi authorities had failed to take punitive action against those responsible for inciting religious hatred and intolerance.
'The arrest of Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, who has himself been the target of communal threats and intimidation, was both unfortunate and unacceptable,' the council stated.
Rights Groups Condemn the Arrest
Earlier in the week, several human rights organisations had already condemned Tarani Das's arrest, describing the action as 'unfortunate' and 'unacceptable.' The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) noted that Tarani Das was taken into custody following weeks of religiously charged tensions, extremist threats, and organised campaigns opposing the construction of the Lord Ram statue at the temple.
This is the latest episode in a pattern of reported pressure on minority religious communities in Bangladesh, coming months after the imprisonment of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das drew international attention to the situation of Hindus in the country. How the Bangladeshi government responds to these demands is expected to shape the broader conversation around minority rights in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
While those making the threats reportedly were not? The pattern echoes the Chinmoy Krishna Das case, suggesting a systemic gap in how Bangladesh's law enforcement responds to pressure on minority communities. International scrutiny of Bangladesh's minority rights record has grown since the political transition of 2024, and cases like this one will continue to test whether that scrutiny translates into accountability or remains rhetorical.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Haridas Chandra Tarani Das and why was he arrested?
Haridas Chandra Tarani Das is the individual who proposed the construction of an 81-foot-tall Lord Ram statue at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple in Palashbari upazila, Gaibandha district. He was reportedly taken into custody on 12 July in connection with an alleged money laundering case registered at Uttara West Police Station in Dhaka, according to local media reports.
What are Hindu leaders in Bangladesh demanding?
Hindu community leaders are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Tarani Das, arguing his arrest was unjust given that he himself had been the target of communal threats. They are also calling for greater protection of minority rights, an end to interference in religious construction, and the release of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Who organised the protest rally in Dhaka on 18 July?
The protest rally was organised by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a human rights organisation working against religious discrimination. It was held outside the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on 18 July.
Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das and why is his case relevant here?
Chinmoy Krishna Das is a leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) who has been imprisoned in Bangladesh since November 2024. Community leaders at the 18 July rally linked his continued detention to the broader pattern of pressure on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, demanding his release alongside that of Tarani Das.
What have human rights groups said about the arrest?
The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) and several other organisations condemned the arrest as 'unfortunate' and 'unacceptable,' noting that Tarani Das was detained following weeks of religiously charged tensions and extremist campaigns against the Ram statue project. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council alleged that authorities failed to act against those inciting religious hostility while arresting the person who was the target of such threats.
