A wave of protests has spread across Bangladesh after Hindu organisations accused Islamist agitators of insulting an image of Lord Ram during demonstrations against a proposed giant statue of the deity in the north of the country. The controversy has intensified after work on the Ram statue project was suspended amid security concerns and threats from religious hardliners.

On Friday, large numbers of Hindus gathered in Dhaka for protest marches and torchlight rallies, raising slogans in support of Lord Ram and demanding immediate action against those allegedly involved in the incident. Demonstrators called for arrests and accused the government of failing to protect minority sentiments.

The anger centres on an incident in Gaibandha district, where protesters claim an image of Lord Ram was deliberately disrespected during opposition to the construction of an 81-foot statue of the deity at Palashbari. The statue is part of a larger temple complex planned by the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple committee.

With no arrests reported so far despite a police case being registered, Hindu groups escalated their protests on Friday. Activists and students assembled at Dhaka’s Shahbagh area before marching toward the National Press Club. Separate protest gatherings and human chains were also organised at different locations in the capital. In Rangpur, tensions briefly rose when police stopped a demonstration, leading to a minor confrontation.

Protest leaders have issued a 72-hour deadline to the authorities, demanding that those responsible for the alleged desecration be identified and arrested. They have warned of a broader agitation if no action is taken. A memorandum is also expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Some Hindu organisations have gone further, saying that if the Ram statue project remains blocked, they will push for Ram temples to be established across all 64 districts of Bangladesh.

The statue project itself has become the focal point of the dispute. According to the temple committee, around four-fifths of the work has already been completed. The wider complex is also expected to include large statues of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva.

Temple authorities say they were forced to stop construction after receiving threats from Islamist groups. One religious hardliner reportedly even threatened to destroy the structure using a bulldozer. Members of the temple committee said fear among workers and organisers made it impossible to continue construction for now.

Committee representatives have stated that the suspension was intended to avoid further unrest and preserve communal peace, while also appealing to the government to ensure security and allow the project to move forward safely.

The issue has once again highlighted concerns about the safety and rights of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, which makes up a small but significant part of the population. The latest tensions come amid wider worries over communal incidents in the country, with several cases of violence against minorities reported in recent months.

Although Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has publicly maintained that citizens of all faiths are free to practise their religion and that the country belongs to everyone, critics say the government must now prove that commitment through action on the ground.