Two Hindu temples set ablaze in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Two Hindu family temples, including a 100-year-old one, were vandalised and set on fire today by unknown persons in Bangladesh.

In the first attack, an ancient temple was set on fire by miscreants who also damaged several idols in the Bagerhat district, bdnews24.com reported.

Priest Pradip Bhattacharya said he shouted for help after noticing smoke belching out of the temple around 8:30 am.

"But, by then, the miscreants had damaged several idols including the one of Durga and set fire to those of Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik," the priest was quoted as saying.

Superintendent of Police in Bagerhat Mohd Nizamul Haq Molla said police had already begun raids to arrest the vandals.

In another incident, the attackers burnt a private temple built in a person's house in Sadar Upazila's Nothullabad Union. This attack is seen to done in order to gain political benefits.

The owner Dasharath Roy has claimed that some local BNP supporters might have been behind the attack as they wanted him not to take part in local elections to be held on Sunday. PTI ABD AKJ NSA 03212001 NNNN