Arson on Durga Idol in Gaibandha Ahead of Autumn Festival, Locals in Panic

In Hamindpur, Kamarpara of Jamalpur Union in Sadar Upazila of Gaibandha, an arson attack occurred on the idol at the Sarbojanin Durga Temple. The incident took place around 12:45 a.m. on Monday (September 1).

Fire service personnel rushed to the scene and managed to control the fire, but several idols were burned and damaged.

Locals alleged that long-standing disputes had existed between current and former members of the temple management committee. Ahead of the autumn Durga festival, both sides had independently undertaken the preparation of idols. It is believed that during the night, miscreants set fire to one of the idols.

Anukul Chandra Ranu, former president of the temple committee, said, “We were working on making the idols in an open area. But they were deliberately set on fire.”

Meanwhile, current president Kuntul Chandra Das stated that it is not yet clear who was involved in the arson, but he described it as an “unplanned act of sabotage.”

The arson incident has caused panic in the area, and locals are demanding the rapid identification and arrest of the perpetrators.

Sadar Upazila police station officer-in-charge Tajuddin Khandakar said, “This was done deliberately. The perpetrators will be brought under the law after investigation. At the same time, both parties are being called to the police station for dispute resolution.”

Prabhat Chandra Adhikari, general secretary of the Upazila Puja Celebration Committee, said that the previous dispute had not yet been resolved, which led to this incident. A reconciliation meeting with both parties will be arranged soon.