A shocking incident of religious desecration has come to light in Jaishthapura Baishali Vihar, a revered Buddhist temple located in Boyalkhali Upazila under Chattogram district. An Islamist individual entered the temple premises and set fire to sacred Buddhist flags, sparking outrage and fear among the local Buddhist community.
According to local sources, the attack took place in broad daylight when devotees and villagers were nearby. Witnesses say the man, appearing calm at first, walked straight into the temple courtyard, tore down the holy flags, and set them ablaze using a lighter. Seeing the flames rise inside the temple compound, several locals rushed to the scene and managed to capture the assailant before he could escape.
He was immediately detained and handed over to the Bangladesh Army, which has been maintaining a presence in the area following recent communal tensions. Army personnel reportedly took the accused into custody for interrogation.
A video from the scene, now circulating widely on social media, shows the accused repeatedly saying, “My brain was not working then. I have some mental issues.” Locals present at the scene dismissed the claim, accusing him of pretending to be mentally unstable to avoid legal punishment. Witnesses alleged that he appeared completely aware of his actions and that the arson was deliberate and premeditated.
Community leaders have condemned the incident as yet another targeted act of religious intolerance against Bangladesh’s minority Buddhist population. Human rights observers have noted that similar incidents have been rising in recent years, especially in Chattogram Hill Tracts and surrounding regions, where Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians often face harassment from Islamist groups.
Local Buddhist monks have urged the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure strict punishment for those responsible, warning that repeated impunity for such acts encourages further violence.
The Bangladesh Army and local police have launched a joint investigation into the incident. Officials are also verifying whether the attacker is linked to any extremist organization or if the act was incited through online radical propaganda.
This incident has reignited concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh, as cases of temple vandalism, desecration of idols, and arson attacks have become distressingly frequent in recent years.
As of now, the name of the perpetrator has not been officially released, but community representatives have demanded transparency, swift justice, and long-term security measures for Buddhist temples and religious institutions in the region.
