Sat Jun 28 17:33:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The article details a diplomatic dispute between India and Bangladesh following the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka. India condemned the demolition, claiming extremists pressured the interim Bangladeshi government, which instead of protecting the temple, framed it as illegal land use and allowed its destruction. Bangladesh countered that the temple was built illegally on railway land and was removed following due process. Bangladesh insists it protects all communities and their places of worship, but building religious structures on public land is not permitted. India expressed dismay at the recurring incidents affecting the Hindu population in Bangladesh, emphasizing the interim government’s responsibility to protect minorities and their religious institutions.
**News Article:**
**India and Bangladesh Clash Over Demolished Durga Temple in Dhaka**
**Dhaka, Bangladesh – June 28, 2025:** Diplomatic tensions have risen between India and Bangladesh following the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area. The Indian government has strongly condemned the incident, accusing the interim Bangladeshi government of failing to protect the Hindu community and its religious institutions.
According to reports, extremists pressured the government to demolish the temple, claiming it was built on illegally occupied land. India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that the government failed to provide security and instead facilitated the temple’s destruction, resulting in damage to the deity. He emphasized the responsibility of the interim government to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutions in Bangladesh.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry has responded, asserting that the temple was constructed illegally on land owned by Bangladesh Railways and its removal was carried out legally to recover public land. The Ministry maintains that while it is committed to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting legal places of worship, the construction of religious structures on public land is strictly prohibited.
The demolition has sparked concerns in India about the safety and security of the Hindu minority population in Bangladesh, which has been affected by previous incidents targeting minority communities. This incident adds to the complexities of the bilateral relationship between the two neighboring countries.
First Piper 