An international human rights organisation has strongly condemned the suspension of the construction of an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali Temple in Gaibandha district, Bangladesh, after Islamist extremist groups mounted sustained pressure against the project. The halt, officially announced by temple authorities on 12 June, has drawn sharp criticism from Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), which cited violations of constitutional and international human rights guarantees.

How the Pressure Unfolded

According to JMBF, the initiative to construct the Ram statue became public in early June, triggering a wave of opposition from local Islamist groups. These groups organised protests, held press conferences, staged demonstrations, and submitted memoranda to the local administration demanding the project be scrapped. Facing mounting pressure — and fears of possible mob violence — the temple authorities formally suspended construction work on 12 June.

What the Rights Body Said

JMBF stated that the incident 'constitutes a clear violation of the rights to freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the security and rights of religious minorities as guaranteed by the Constitution of Bangladesh, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).'

Shahanur Islam, founder President of JMBF and a prominent human rights lawyer, said: 'The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of religion, equality before the law, and equal rights for all citizens. As a state party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Bangladesh has also undertaken international obligations to protect freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the rights of religious minorities.'

Islam added: 'Unfortunately, under the current government, these commitments have largely remained confined to paper. At the same time, the alarming rise of Islamist extremist groups and the increasing incidents of violence, intimidation, and discrimination against religious minorities are deeply concerning.'

Media Self-Censorship Flagged

JMBF also raised alarm over what it described as selective or incomplete coverage of the incident by several mainstream Bangladeshi media outlets. The organisation said that fearing possible mob violence, extremist backlash, and risks to journalists' safety, some news organisations had reportedly resorted to self-censorship — a development it said raises 'serious concerns regarding the public's right to information and freedom of the press.'

Demands and Broader Implications

The rights body called on the Government of Bangladesh to order an independent, impartial, and credible investigation into the incident and to effectively guarantee the security and religious freedom of its minority communities. JMBF stressed that 'when a state yields to intimidation, threats of violence, or pressure from extremist groups, it undermines the rule of law, democracy, and the very foundations of human rights.'

This incident comes amid a broader pattern of reported pressure on Hindu minority communities in Bangladesh, raising questions about the state's capacity — and willingness — to enforce constitutional protections in the face of organised extremist opposition. International scrutiny of Bangladesh's minority rights record is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.