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Published : 05 Oct 2025, 03:33 PM
Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has alleged that a group of “fascist intellectuals” were behind attempts to stoke religious discord during this year’s Durga Puja after beards were placed on the faces of Asur (demons in Hinduism) idols at hundreds of puja sites across the country.
Speaking to reporters after a core committee meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday, Jahangir said the efforts were part of a wider plot to provoke communal tension and violence.
“Fascists and their associates have tried to incite religious division and communal violence by placing beards on the faces of Asur at some puja pavilions. This incident was instigated by some fascist intellectuals,” he said.
He added that bearded Asur figures had been found at 793 puja pavilions nationwide.
“We have identified some of those involved. The investigation is ongoing, though no one has been arrested yet.”
The meeting also discussed the upcoming national elections, arms looting, the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) elections, and the Rohingya crisis.
Addressing recent unrest in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Jahangir linked reports of rape to what he called conspiracies designed to destabilise the region.
“The conspiracy to disturb the Chattogram Hill Tracts by raising rape allegations and to destroy communal harmony by putting beards on Asur's faces at Durga Puja pavilions is backed by fascists, which has already been proven,” he said.
Jahangir further claimed a connection between how the chief advisor was portrayed in a derogatory manner during Durga Puja across the border in India and the act of placing beards on Asur figures in Bangladesh.
He credited law-enforcing agencies for preventing violence during the festival.
On the rape allegation in the hill tracts, he said: “The rape allegation incident caused so much chaos but no evidence was found in the medical report.”
He added that blockades and the Section 144 ban on public gatherings had been lifted in the area.
“Like last year, Durga Puja was celebrated peacefully, without any hindrance and in a festive atmosphere,” he said.
Asked whether the incident involving a North South University student accused of “insulting religion” was linked to any other event, he said the matter was still under investigation and it was “too early to say” whether there was a connection.
Responding to a question about comments from the Indian government that Bangladesh’s interim administration had “failed to maintain law and order" and was shifting blame onto New Delhi for its shortcomings, Jahangir said: “Who are you [media] blaming, what is your reaction, as a Bangladeshi? You saw what he said, but you are not reporting that. Nothing was said quoting him. You saw the incident, you are witnesses. The people will trust your account more.”
“You’ve seen the events yourselves -- you are eyewitnesses. The people will trust your account more.”
Pressed on whether neighbouring countries wanted to destabilise Bangladesh or disrupt elections scheduled for February, Jahangir said: “You [media] can answer that better. I understand your question – I’ll look into it and respond afterwards.”
On whether the Awami League would participate in the election, the advisor said the issue was under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission.
He declined to comment on the chief advisor’s recent remarks about lifting the ban on Awami League activities.
