Bangladesh announces grants for Hindu temples, safety ahead of Durga Puja

In the wake of the forthcoming Durga Puja festival, the Bangladesh government has vowed that the Hindu community will be protected and equal rights shall be ensured for all citizens of the country, affirming that it will also work for the development and welfare of religious institutions, taking concrete steps to strengthen the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.

Addressing parliament on Monday, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad reiterated this steadfast pledge amid lingering apprehensions regarding minority security, particularly given the communal violence and attacks that have previously marred the festivities.

Regardless of their religion, the people of Bangladesh must enjoy equal rights,” Kaikobad said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring equal treatment for all religious communities.

Responding directly to an inquiry raised by ruling party parliamentarian Subarna Sikder regarding the financial constraints faced by the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust, with the claim that the scarcity of funds confines the trust within a small purview, limiting the expansion of its activities, Kaikobad said the trust holds around Tk100 crore in fixed deposits, with the income being used to support temples across the country.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted that sustained annual grants from his ministry continue to facilitate the extensive renovation of temples alongside the vital development of cremation grounds.

Emphasising that every citizen must unreservedly enjoy equal liberties irrespective of creed, he reaffirmed that state policy remains firmly rooted in affording equitable dignity and resource allocation across all faiths during the rollout of religious welfare initiatives.