Multiple human rights organisations in Bangladesh have strongly condemned the arrest 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, calling the action 'unfortunate' and 'unacceptable'.

The Arrest

Das was taken into custody from the Palashbari temple premises on 12 July, in connection with a money laundering case registered the same night at Uttara West Police Station in Dhaka. CID Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan confirmed the arrest, stating that further details would be disclosed in due course, according to local media reports.

Rights Groups Respond

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a body that works against religious discrimination, alleged in a press statement that extremist communal groups had opposed the proposed statue for a considerable period, offended the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, and incited unwarranted religious hostility across the country.

The Council expressed grave concern that Bangladeshi authorities had failed to take punitive action against those responsible for inciting religious hatred and intolerance, even as Das himself had been subjected to communal threats and intimidation. '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 said.

The Council has called on the authorities to immediately release Das, uphold justice, protect religious freedom, and take appropriate action against those spreading 'communal hatred' and threatening 'social cohesion.' It further argued that the arrest is 'inconsistent with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and equal protection of citizens' rights.'

HRCBM Warns of Prisoner-of-Conscience Risk

The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) also condemned the arrest, noting that Das was detained following weeks of religiously charged tensions, extremist threats, and organised campaigns opposing the construction of the Lord Ram statue at the temple.

According to the HRCBM, it had previously warned Bangladeshi authorities that the Palashbari temple, the statue, devotees, and the surrounding Hindu community were facing organised pressure, intimidation, and demands for the removal of religious structures, as well as calls for action against Das.

'If the alleged financial case is shown to be a pretext used to punish him for peaceful religious activity, Hindu identity, or the visible construction of a Hindu religious monument, his detention would raise the clearest elements of a prisoner-of-conscience case,' the HRCBM stated.

Broader Context

This comes amid a pattern of documented pressure on minority religious communities in Bangladesh. Rights organisations have repeatedly flagged incidents of temple vandalism, land encroachment, and communal intimidation targeting Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. The proposed 81-foot Ram statue had reportedly become a flashpoint for organised opposition from extremist groups well before Das's arrest, making the timing of the money laundering case a subject of sharp scrutiny from civil society.

What Happens Next

Rights bodies are pressing for Das's immediate release and demanding accountability for those who allegedly incited religious hostility. How Bangladesh's interim authorities respond will be closely watched by minority rights advocates and regional observers alike.