After the Awami League’s Fall, Durga Puja Finds Peace in Bangladesh
For years, Durga Puja in Bangladesh unfolded under fear and political tension. The 2025 celebration, held peacefully nationwide, marks a hopeful turn from manipulation to harmony and true festivity.
বছরের পর বছর পূজার সময় হামলা, ভাঙচুর আর আতংক ছিল নিয়মিত ঘটনা। ২০২৫ ছিল তার ব্যতিক্রম যখন নতুন সরকার ক্ষমতায়। তাহলে আগের সহিংস ঘটনাগুলো কি সত্যিই সাম্প্রদায়িক ছিল, নাকি ছিল রাজনৈতিক কূটকৌশলের অংশ? এই প্রতিবেদনে তার কিছু চিত্র তুলে ধরা হয়েছে।
Durga Puja in Bangladesh has long carried a dual reality: devotion and dread. From temple attacks to idol vandalism, the festival frequently unfolded under threat. The 2025 Puja, the first since the July uprising, ended without reported violence, prompting new questions about whether previous years’ turmoil stemmed from communal tension or political manipulation. This article examines the record of a few past incidents and the conditions that enabled a calm celebration this year.
Puja Under Uncertainty and Fear During the Awami League Era
Although Bangladesh is known as a land of communal harmony, the past decade under the Awami League government saw repeated attacks during Durga Puja. According to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), between 2013 and 2021 there were more than 3,500 assaults on Hindus, including 1,678 attacks on temples and acts of idol vandalism.
In October 2020, miscreants vandalised idols in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur ahead of Durga Puja. The following year, communal violence erupted across Bangladesh, and 117 Hindu temples were reportedly attacked in 27 districts. During Durga Puja 2022, miscreants attacked the Durga Puja Mandap at Shyam Sunder Jiu Akhra and the Shiva Temple in Kishoreganj.
ASK later reported that attacks on minority homes and temples had become a regular prelude to the festival, describing the trend as “deeply unfortunate.” Between January and July 2023 alone, there were 15 reported incidents of idol vandalism.
During that time, perpetrators were rarely identified. Analysts argued that many of the attacks were politically orchestrated to portray the ruling party as a protector of minorities, seeking diplomatic favor from India and Western allies.
A study conducted during that time found that communal violence in Bangladesh was not spontaneous but rather deliberate and well-orchestrated incidents. The study examined three different cases. All these attacks were found primarily intertwined with local politics and power relations as there was evidence of local political leaders’ and members’ involvement in the assaults.
For example, on October 15, 2021, a Hindu temple in Cumilla was attacked by an angry crowd after a photo went viral on social media. The picture showed the Quran placed on the lap of a Hindu god during the Durga Puja festival. After this incident, many more attacks followed across the country, where mobs burned Hindu homes and damaged temples and statues.
Local residents, however, said the attack was not only planned but also politically motivated. Many believed the incident occurred as a result of a dispute between Bon Kumar Shiv and Awami League leader Shuklal Debnath.
From Fear to Festivity in 2025
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, Bangladesh entered a new phase of political and social transformation. The Durga Puja of 2025 reflected that change, standing as a symbol of harmony and coexistence.
This year, Durga Puja was celebrated in 33,355 mandaps across the country , over 1,000 more mandaps than the previous year, marking a record number of celebrations.
According to Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Basudeb Dhar, the 2025 Durga Puja was held peacefully across the country. “No untoward incident took place anywhere,” he said, crediting the success to the “active cooperation of the government, law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, the Bangladesh Army, and political parties.”
A member of a local Puja committee told the media that the strong presence of law enforcement agencies ensured total safety. “We celebrated the festival safely. Compared to previous years, we enjoyed Puja with 100% more security,” he said.
Even provocations from across the border, such as the depiction of Dr. Muhammad Yunus as Mahishasur in some Kolkata pandals, failed to ignite unrest in Bangladesh.
A devotee told reporters, “This year’s Durga Puja is being celebrated well by the grace of Mother Durga. No unwanted incidents or disturbances have occurred. I pray that next year’s Puja is celebrated just as peacefully.”
Law Enforcement’s Coordinated Role
Authorities attributed the peaceful celebrations to strong coordination between law enforcement and the administration. Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told reporters that “an attempt was made, with the backing of a neighboring country, to destabilize Durga Puja celebrations,” referring to the Khagrachari incident.
Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam also expressed satisfaction, saying, “No untoward incidents occurred anywhere in the country,” and credited “the coordinated efforts of the government, Home Ministry, and law enforcement agencies.”
A Strong Message of Religious Harmony
The peaceful celebration of Durga Puja 2025 reminds us of Bangladesh’s enduring spirit of interfaith unity despite false propaganda and attempts by reactionary forces to portray the country as divided.
Dhaka’s Ramna Kali Temple President Aparna Roy Das responded sharply to cross-border criticism, saying, “Stones are thrown at us from the neighboring house (India). From India, Suvendu repeatedly claims that Hindus are not living in peace in Bangladesh. If we are not at peace, how are we able to celebrate Durga Puja? How did 33,000 mandaps take place this year? I invite Suvendu to come and see for himself.”
About the Author:
Mohammed Raihan is a staff contributor to the Insighta. He writes on history, culture, language, economy and geopolitics, uncovering untold narratives that connect the past and present. He can be reached at mohammed_raihan@theinsighta.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Insighta’s editorial stance. However, any errors in the stated facts or figures may be corrected if supported by verifiable evidence. | A guest post by
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