A goddess Durga temple inside the Laxminarayan Cotton Mill in the Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj, Bangladesh, was vandalised on Tuesday evening, local media reported, in what observers describe as yet another incident targeting a Hindu place of worship. Separately, a 65-year-old Hindu man, Ranjan Mondal, was found dead — his body stuffed in a sack and dumped in the Mukteshwari River in Jashore district — raising fresh alarm over the safety of minority communities in the country.

Temple Vandalism in Narayanganj

According to local media reports, the garment manufacturing company Knit Concern Group has been accused of blocking access to the temple premises and carrying out the vandalism. Tarun Lal Begi, General Secretary of the Laxminarayan Cotton Mills Durga Temple Committee, alleged that the existing lock on the temple gate was removed on Tuesday evening and replaced with a new one to prevent worshippers from entering.

Begi further claimed that members of Knit Concern Group carried out the act in defiance of explicit instructions from local authorities, and that the group's director, Monir Hossain Mollah, along with associates, vandalised decorations and a pandal inside the temple.

Police took Monir Hossain Mollah, the group's director, and Ibrahim, its security department in-charge, into custody on Wednesday evening for questioning. Narayanganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Tarek Al Mehedi confirmed the detentions, saying, 'We are talking about the land-related complications between the temple committee and the Knit Concern Group. We are looking at how to resolve the issue. On the other hand, the temple committee has also complained about vandalism and obstruction of entry to the temple. Action is being taken to take action in that regard.'

Hindu Man Found Murdered in Jashore

In a separate and deeply troubling development, the body of Ranjan Mondal, a 65-year-old fish farm owner, was recovered near Helarghat in the Mashiahati area of Monirampur upazila in Jashore on 7 November, stuffed inside a sack and dumped in the Mukteshwari River, according to local media.

His wife, Beauty Mondal, told reporters that Ranjan left home on the afternoon of 6 November and did not return. She said police informed her about the recovery of his body the following morning. She also claimed there were injury marks on his neck and other parts of his body.

Assistant Superintendent of Police of Monirampur, Imdadul Haque, confirmed that the body was recovered based on information received by police and was subsequently sent to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital for autopsy, according to reports.

A Pattern of Violence Against Minorities

The incidents follow a series of similar attacks. Last month, 43-year-old Rabendra Rishi was allegedly stabbed to death, while three homes belonging to Hindu families were vandalised and looted in a separate incident in Bangladesh. Notably, this is at least the second Hindu man killed under suspicious circumstances in recent weeks, and the second major temple vandalism incident reported in this period.

These developments come amid what rights observers describe as an escalating pattern of atrocities against minority communities — particularly Hindus — in Bangladesh. Reports indicate the trend began during the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and has persisted under the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration. Critics argue that the authorities have been slow to act, though police in both the Narayanganj and Jashore cases have initiated preliminary steps.

What Happens Next

The two detained individuals in the Narayanganj temple case remain in police custody for questioning as of Wednesday evening. An autopsy on Ranjan Mondal's body is underway at Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. Human rights groups and Hindu community organisations in Bangladesh are reportedly monitoring both cases closely, amid calls for urgent government intervention to protect minority communities.