Teacher Supriya Sarker is delighted to mark Bangladesh’s biggest Hindu festival, Durga Puja. However, she expresses concern about the overshadowing fear and violence that have marred this year’s celebrations.
The week-long festivities, culminating in the immersion of the Hindu Goddess, have strained the Hindu community in Muslim-majority Bangladesh with reports of vandalism, violence, and intimidation. The country’s minority Hindu population, accounting for about 8 per cent of the total population, has been targeted, especially following the recent political upheaval.
Despite assurances of safety, this year’s Durga Puja celebrations have been subdued due to the political unrest and attacks on minority groups. The interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, faces challenges in maintaining law and order, and the festival has become a test of his administration’s ability to protect minority communities.
Supriya Sarker emphasizes the importance of peaceful coexistence among different religious groups in Bangladesh and calls for an end to discrimination and intimidation against Hindus.