Demonstration outside National Press Club demands immediate release of Haridas Chandra Tari Das
Dhaka, Bangladesh – On 17 July 2026, a large number of people from Bangladesh’s minority communities staged a demonstration in Dhaka to protest the unjust arrest of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh. The protest was organised by the ‘Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council’ in front of the National Press Club. Protesters alleged that the Hindu youth, Haridas Chandra Tari Das, was arrested under a fabricated case of financial irregularities. They maintained that the actual motive behind this action was his initiative to establish an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram in the Palashbari area of Gaibandha district in Northern Bangladesh.
🇧🇩 Hindus held a protest in Gaibandha, #Bangladesh against the arrest of Haridas Chandra.
They said Tarique Rahman is trying to suppress Hindus to satisfy Radical #Islamists .They demanded the release of Haridas, who built the Lord Ram statue. @DinTri @pavanbadhe https://t.co/H77GZeGeRY pic.twitter.com/kZLx27DaIz
— Bangladeshi Hindus Community🚨🇧🇩 (@Hindubd49346) July 14, 2026
Atrocities against Hindus can no more be tolerated: Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council
Manindra Kumar Nath, General Secretary of the ‘Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council’, strongly condemned the arrest of the youth. He stated that the government arrested Haridas Chandra Tari Das 2–3 days ago and sent him to prison. Arresting a person merely for being associated with the installation of a statue of Lord Ram is completely unacceptable.
Over the last two years, incidents of violence and harassment against minority communities in Bangladesh have been continuous. In the past year alone, over 3,000 such incidents have come to light across the country, resulting in the murder of 66 people and attacks on numerous temples. He added that such events are extremely unfortunate and cannot be tolerated.
Demand immediate action from the govt
Senior leader of the Unity Council, Subrata Chowdhury, demanded that the government identify the perpetrators and immediately take legal action against them. The government must clarify on whose instructions Haridas Chandra Tari Das was arrested, who stands behind this action, and ensure strict legal measures are taken against those responsible, regardless of how high-ranking the officials involved may be.
Demonstrators warn of nationwide agitation
The demonstrators demanded the immediate release of Haridas Chandra Tari Das. They warned that if he is not released, the Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian communities of Bangladesh will unite to launch a massive nationwide agitation.
India too had expressed concern
Earlier, on 23rd June, Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that reports regarding the desecration of Hindu deities’ idols and religious symbols were deeply concerning. He added that the Bangladesh government must take strict action against radical elements and ensure the safety and security of minority communities.
