Garibandha: Work on Hindu god Ram statue suspended following Islamic protests

In northern Bangladesh, the project to erect one of Asia’s largest statues of the Hindu god Ram has been halted. Muslim leaders are calling for the statue’s permanent removal, whilst Christian and Hindu representatives denounce a climate of mounting pressure on non-Muslim communities.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The construction of a large statue of the god Ram in northern Bangladesh has been suspended following days of tension and protests by local Islamic groups, reigniting the debate on religious freedom and the space reserved for minorities in the country.

The statue was under construction within the Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Kali temple complex in Palashbari, in the district of Gaibandha. According to the organisers, it could have become one of the largest statues dedicated to Ram in Asia, a symbol of the religious and cultural identity of the local Hindu community.

On Thursday, the temple committee announced the suspension of work: “We are Bangladeshis and we believe in peaceful coexistence among people of all religions,” said Shyamal Kumar Mahanta, a committee member. ‘To preserve social harmony, we have decided to temporarily halt the project.’

The decision came following growing mobilisation by the Imam Ulama Parishad, an organisation bringing together Muslim religious leaders from the area. In recent days, the group has organised demonstrations and human chains along the Dhaka-Rangpur motorway, calling not only for the suspension of work but for the complete removal of the structure.

The organisation’s leaders claim that the project has generated “concern, anger and insecurity” among the local population and are calling on the authorities to investigate how the initiative is being funded, including the possible presence of funds from abroad. Some representatives have also set a 72-hour ultimatum to obtain clarification, threatening further protests.

The authorities have stepped up security measures in the most sensitive areas of Palashbari to prevent possible incidents.

For religious minorities, however, the issue goes beyond this single construction project. “It is a very sad situation,” Nirmol Rozario, president of the Bangladesh Christian Association, told AsiaNews. “We see this pressure as an interference with religious freedom. As minorities, we are deeply concerned.”

Rozario recalled that Bangladesh was founded in 1971 on principles of secularism and religious pluralism. “The Constitution guarantees the right to practise one’s faith. If Hindus are prevented today from building their own places of worship or religious symbols, the same thing could happen tomorrow to Buddhists and Christians,” he warned.

Hindus account for around 8% of Bangladesh’s population. Minority communities continue to report incidents of discrimination, disputes over land ownership and sporadic sectarian violence, particularly in rural areas.

The Gaibandha dispute also fits into a regional context marked by growing religious polarisation. Human rights organisations note that, whilst formally maintaining the secular nature of the state, Bangladesh continues to grapple with tensions between religious identity, local politics and social dynamics amplified by social media.

Meanwhile, work on the site has come to a standstill and the future of the project appears uncertain. Temple officials have announced further consultations with representatives of local religious communities before making a final decision.

For many residents of Palashbari, however, the priority remains the day-to-day coexistence of different communities. “We have lived together for generations,” said a resident near the temple. “We hope this situation does not change things.”