A sense of terror has gripped the Hindu community in Bangladesh after thieves raided the Sri Sri Pagal Shankar ISKCON temple in Brahmanbaria district on January 26.
Between 2:00 am and 3:00 am, masked intruders broke the locks of five rooms in the Nasirnagar Upazila complex, stealing 14 sacred idols, gold and silver ornaments, and approximately 20,000 Taka in cash.
The theft was discovered at 4:00 am by priest Adi Shishya. Temple authorities confirmed that the haul included six brass and eight stone idols, ritual utensils, and two donation boxes. This incident marks the second major violation of the sanctuary following a similar robbery in 2017, leading priest Lipi Rani Gop to voice a heartbreaking plea regarding the lack of security for religious minorities.
The raid comes amid a sharp rise in sectarian violence following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024. Under the interim Muhammad Yunus government, attacks on Hindus have intensified, with the Ministry of External Affairs reporting more than 152 temple attacks since the transition. At least 11 Hindus were killed between December 2025 and January 2026 alone.
