In a concerning escalation of religious violence, shrines in Bangladesh have become targets of arson following previous attacks on temples. On Thursday, three shrines in the Homan Upazila of Cumilla were set ablaze by rioters. The attacks resulted in one fatality and left 22 injured. Police have established a security cordon around the area due to the volatility of the situation.
The cause of the arson is attributed to a disagreement about Islamic beliefs between local residents and those affiliated with the shrines. The police have initiated an investigation, with the primary goal of restoring peace.
The targeted shrines honored Kafil Uddin Shah, Haweli Shah, and Abdu Shah, all of whom hold respected positions within Bangladesh’s religious community. These figures were believed to have attempted to create a separate religious sect from mainstream Islam. Following their deaths, shrines were built in Cumilla, where they were originally from. The area is home to a large number of Shah’s followers.
Two days before the attacks, Mohsin, Kafil Uddin Shah’s grandson, was arrested for a contentious comment about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad posted on Facebook. This led to locals gathering at his house and a subsequent police response. Following the police’s departure, an announcement from a local mosque attracted a crowd that then set fire to the three shrines. Police eventually regained control.
A British government report detailed that from August 2024 to December 2024, Bangladesh experienced 133 attacks on places of worship, with the majority being Hindu temples. There have also been reports of over 100 attacks on shrines and Sufi sites. Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, who assumed office in August 2024, aimed to reduce religious attacks, but these incidents have continued.