Latest news with #BangladeshRailways
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to minority rights
Bangladesh has said that it remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship but building religious structures on public land is not permissible "under any circumstance". The Foreign Ministry's statement on Friday (June 27, 2025) came a day after India denounced the reported destruction of a Durga temple in Dhaka and stressed the responsibility of Bangladesh's interim government to protect Hindus as well as religious institutions. The Ministry claimed that the temple in Dhaka's Khilkhet area was built on land owned by Bangladesh Railways, and its removal was carried out following due process to recover public land, the state-run BSS news agency reported. It alleged that the temple started as a makeshift pavilion, with organisers attempting to make the temporary structure permanent despite repeated reminders. On June 26, Bangladesh Railways proceeded with the "peaceful eviction of all unauthorised structures along the rail track in Khilkhet area," it said. "While the laws of the land ensure full protection to all places of worship without discriminating against any built-in conformity with law, it is not permissible for any to build any religious structure encroaching public land under any circumstances," the Ministry said. "Bangladesh remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rights of all communities, including protection of the places of worship," it added. During a briefing on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka." "The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land they allowed the destruction of the temple today," he said. 'This has resulted in damage to the deity before it was shifted. We are dismayed that such incidents continue to recur in Bangladesh,' he added. Mr. Jaiswal underlined that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh "to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutions." The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents against minority communities in the country.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bangladesh government reaffirms commitment to safeguard minority rights
It alleged that the temple started as a makeshift pavilion, with organisers attempting to make the temporary structure permanent despite repeated reminders. On June 26, Bangladesh Railways proceeded with the "peaceful eviction of all unauthorised structures along the rail track in Khilkhet area," it said. "While the laws of the land ensure full protection to all places of worship without discriminating against any built-in conformity with law, it is not permissible for any to build any religious structure encroaching public land under any circumstances," the ministry said. "Bangladesh remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rights of all communities, including protection of the places of worship," it added. During a briefing on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka." "The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use and they allowed the destruction of the temple today," he said. "This has resulted in damage to the deity before it was shifted. We are dismayed that such incidents continue to recur in Bangladesh," he added. Jaiswal underlined that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh "to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutions." The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents against minority communities in the country.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Bangladesh clarifies Durga temple built without permission on Railway land
The Bangladesh government on Friday clarified the circumstances surrounding the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka's Khilkhet area, stating that the temple was built without permission on land owned by Bangladesh Railways. According to the Foreign Ministry, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on railway land during Durga Puja last year without prior permission. Although the railway authority later extended permission, the organisers failed to remove the structure after the celebrations, violating their agreement. "The fact remains that last year, during Durga Puja, without having prior permission, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on a piece of land that is undisputedly owned by Bangladesh Railways. Later, the Railway authority extended permission with the condition that as soon as the Puja celebration is over, the organisers would remove the makeshift Mandap. Regrettably, after the Puja was over in October 2024, the organisers declined to remove the makeshift Mandap, violating the mutual agreement. Rather, they established a 'Maha Kali' (Kali Murti) there," the Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement. The ministry further explained that despite "repeated reminders, they unfortunately took the initiative to make the Mandap permanent, disregarding their own arrangement with the railway authorities." "In December 2024, Railway authorities held consultations with local community representatives, organisers of the Mandap and issued a public notification asking all concerned to remove all unauthorised installations, including vendors, hundreds of shops and political party offices, illegally built on either side of the rail tracks owned by Bangladesh Railway in the area," the statement noted. According to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, the land is owned by Bangladesh Railways, with the ministry stating that 200 feet from the existing rail track is considered solely railway land. Two additional rail tracks are being constructed in the area, and the land occupied by the temple is needed to complete the project. "Basically, 200 feet from the cast of the existing rail track is solely the land of Bangladesh Railway. This is also to mention that 02 (two) more rail tracks are being constructed under a project titled, "Construction of 3rd & 4th DG line in Dhaka-Tongi section and Doubling of Dual Gauge line in Tongi-Joydebpur section of Bangladesh Railway" and this piece of land was a dire need to complete the new lines under this project," the statement added. The ministry highlighted that "over the past months, repeated reminders to the illegal land occupiers went unheeded." The Bangladesh government emphasised its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship. However, it stressed that building religious structures on public land without permission is not permissible. "On 24th and 25th June, Bangladesh Railways finally asked all to remove all the unauthorised installations, including the Puja organisers to remove the temporarily built Mandap. Finally, on 26th June, following due process, Bangladesh Railways proceeded to the peaceful eviction of all unauthorised structures along the rail track in Khilkhet area. In the course of the eviction process, the idol of the makeshift Mandap was immersed in the nearby Balu River, in due reverence, with the participation of the members of the local Hindu community," the ministry stated. The Bangladesh government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship, while emphasising that building religious structures on public land without permission is not permissible. "The removal of unauthorised structures in order to recover government land is a regular and lawful administrative activity. While the laws of the land ensure full protection to all places of worship without discriminating against any built in conformity with law, it is not permissible for anyone to build any religious structure encroaching on public land under any circumstances. The organisers of the makeshift Mandap clearly exploited the trust and goodwill of the Railway authorities by violating their own agreement," it added. However, minority organisations in Bangladesh held protests, condemning the demolition and alleging that the authorities did not provide prior notice to the community. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs criticised the interim government of Bangladesh for the demolition on Thursday, stating that the government failed to protect the temple and instead projected the issue as illegal land use. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that it is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutions MEA spokesperson Randhir said, "We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka. The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use, and they allowed the destruction of the temple today. This has resulted in damage to the Deity before it was shifted." "Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus ' properties and religious institutions," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Built on railway land without permission: Bangladesh clarifies on Durga temple demolition
Bangladesh government on Friday clarified the circumstances around the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka's Khilkhet area which led to protests held by minority organisations. The government stated that the temple was built without permission on land owned by Bangladesh Railways. According to the Bangladesh government, 200 feet from the existing rail track is considered solely railway land.(Reuters/Representational Image) According to the foreign ministry, the makeshift puja mandap was set up by a local Hindu community during Durga Puja last year without permission, news agency ANI reported. While the railways extended the permission to build it, the agreement was to remove it after the celebrations which the organisers violated. Repeated reminders given to organisers 'Regrettably, after the Puja was over in October 2024, the organisers declined to remove the makeshift Mandap, violating the mutual agreement. Rather, they established a 'Maha Kali' (Kali Murti) there," the report quoted the Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement. Further, the ministry elaborated that despite the repeated reminders, organisers made the mandap permanent and went against the arrangement with the railways. The statement also highlighted that the Railways held consultations with the local community and issued a public notification 'asking all concerned to remove all unauthorised installations, including vendors, hundreds of shops and political party offices, illegally built on either side of the rail tracks.' The land on which the mandap was built is owned by Bangladesh Railways, according to the ministry, who has stated that 200 feet from the existing rail track is considered solely railway land. The statement also added that the land is needed to build two new rail tracks under a project The government of Bangladesh said it is committed to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship. However, it also mentioned that constructing religious structures on public land without proper authorisation is not allowed. The official statement said that Bangladesh Railways had issued notices on June 24th and 25th, requesting the removal of all unauthorized structures and on June 26th, following due legal procedure, they peacefully removed all unauthorized installations along the rail tracks. 'In the course of the eviction process, the idol of the makeshift Mandap was immersed in the nearby Balu River, in due reverence, with the participation of the members of the local Hindu community," the ministry stated. The government stated that the removal of unauthorised structures to reclaim public land is a routine and lawful administrative action. Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticised Bangladesh's interim government over the demolition, stating that the government failed in its duty to protect the temple and instead framed the incident as an issue of illegal land use. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Bangladesh government holds the responsibility to safeguard the Hindu community, along with their properties and religious institutions.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh clarifies media reports on Durga temple destruction, says temple built without permission, land owned by Railways
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Bangladesh government on Friday clarified the circumstances surrounding the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka's Khilkhet area, stating that the temple was built without permission on land owned by Bangladesh to the Foreign Ministry, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on railway land during Durga Puja last year without prior permission. Although the railway authority later extended permission, the organisers failed to remove the structure after the celebrations, violating their agreement."The fact remains that last year, during Durga Puja, without having prior permission, the local Hindu community installed a makeshift Puja Mandap on a piece of land that is undisputedly owned by Bangladesh Railways. Later, the Railway authority extended permission with the condition that as soon as the Puja celebration is over, the organisers would remove the makeshift Mandap. Regrettably, after the Puja was over in October 2024, the organisers declined to remove the makeshift Mandap, violating the mutual agreement. Rather, they established a 'Maha Kali' (Kali Murti) there," the Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a ministry further explained that despite "repeated reminders, they unfortunately took the initiative to make the Mandap permanent, disregarding their own arrangement with the railway authorities.""In December 2024, Railway authorities held consultations with local community representatives, organisers of the Mandap and issued a public notification asking all concerned to remove all unauthorised installations, including vendors, hundreds of shops and political party offices, illegally built on either side of the rail tracks owned by Bangladesh Railway in the area," the statement to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, the land is owned by Bangladesh Railways, with the ministry stating that 200 feet from the existing rail track is considered solely railway land. Two additional rail tracks are being constructed in the area, and the land occupied by the temple is needed to complete the project."Basically, 200 feet from the cast of the existing rail track is solely the land of Bangladesh Railway. This is also to mention that 02 (two) more rail tracks are being constructed under a project titled, "Construction of 3rd & 4th DG line in Dhaka-Tongi section and Doubling of Dual Gauge line in Tongi-Joydebpur section of Bangladesh Railway" and this piece of land was a dire need to complete the new lines under this project," the statement ministry highlighted that "over the past months, repeated reminders to the illegal land occupiers went unheeded."The Bangladesh government emphasised its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship. However, it stressed that building religious structures on public land without permission is not permissible."On 24th and 25th June, Bangladesh Railways finally asked all to remove all the unauthorised installations, including the Puja organisers to remove the temporarily built Mandap. Finally, on 26th June, following due process, Bangladesh Railways proceeded to the peaceful eviction of all unauthorised structures along the rail track in Khilkhet area. In the course of the eviction process, the idol of the makeshift Mandap was immersed in the nearby Balu River, in due reverence, with the participation of the members of the local Hindu community," the ministry Bangladesh government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all communities and protecting places of worship, while emphasising that building religious structures on public land without permission is not permissible."The removal of unauthorised structures in order to recover government land is a regular and lawful administrative activity. While the laws of the land ensure full protection to all places of worship without discriminating against any built in conformity with law, it is not permissible for anyone to build any religious structure encroaching on public land under any circumstances. The organisers of the makeshift Mandap clearly exploited the trust and goodwill of the Railway authorities by violating their own agreement," it minority organisations in Bangladesh held protests, condemning the demolition and alleging that the authorities did not provide prior notice to the the Ministry of External Affairs criticised the interim government of Bangladesh for the demolition on Thursday, stating that the government failed to protect the temple and instead projected the issue as illegal land use. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that it is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutionsMEA spokesperson Randhir said, "We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka. The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use, and they allowed the destruction of the temple today. This has resulted in damage to the Deity before it was shifted.""Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus ' properties and religious institutions," he added.
