Published : 15 Feb 2026, 11:48 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:10 PM
Unidentified miscreants have torched the Sri Sri Gour Nitai Temple at Tarapur tea garden in the Guabari of Sylhet Sadar Upazila.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, said Md Saiful Islam, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.
Mala Mudi, who manages the temple, said, “Early in the morning, someone set fire to the temple. The flames spread quickly. Local residents rushed to control the fire, but by then significant damage had already occurred inside the temple.
“A nearby shopkeeper first noticed the smoke and alerted us. When we arrived, we saw curtains and various items had been burnt.”
He added, “The fire destroyed images of Lord Krishna, Radha-Krishna, Panchatatva, Lord Narasingha, and Lord Jagannath, along with the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Puja clothes, and curtains.”
He said he was able to rescue one Panchatatva image with difficulty.
Mudi also claimed there had been no dispute or quarrel with anyone prior to the incident.
Rajan Roy, a resident of the Tarapur tea garden, said: “We have been organising Puja activities here for nearly three years. Suddenly, someone set the fire, and we have no idea who did it. It has caused concern among us.”
In the afternoon, Sunil Mudi, general secretary of the Tarapur tea garden panchayat committee, said: “We have gone to the police station to file a case over the temple fire. The case is being filed on behalf of the garden and the tea workers.”
ADC Saiful said, “Police are investigating who set fire to the temple at Guabari. City police officers have inspected the temple. There are no CCTV cameras at the temple. Legal action will be taken if a complaint is lodged.”
Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD) condemned the arson, demanding punishment for the perpetrators.
District leaders visited the temple, warning against communal violence around the elections.
