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Published : 27 Aug 2025, 04:54 PM
Three interim government advisors have ordered immediate action if any “provocative” activities are seen around Chandranath Hill, a pilgrimage site of the Hindu community in Chattogram’s Sitakunda.
They gave the directive during a meeting with the Chandranath Dham (Kanchan Nath-Chandranath-Adinath) Shrine Committee in Dhaka on Wednesday morning, instructing field administration, law-enforcing agencies, and intelligence officers to remain vigilant.
According to a press release from the Chief Advisor’s Office, Power and Energy Advisor Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Primary and Mass Education Advisor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, and Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain were present at the meeting.
The directive followed a controversy sparked on Aug 15 when a businessman from Dhaka, MM Saiful Islam, visited Chandranath Hill and posted a photograph on Facebook with Hifazat-e Islam leader Harun Izhar, writing: “A mosque on top of Sitakunda hill is 90 percent confirmed.”
The post led to discontent among members of the Hindu community.
In response, the Sitakunda Shrine Committee, which oversees the management of temples in the area, contacted the local administration.
On Aug 17, Harun clarified through his own Facebook post: “Some young religious scholars and entrepreneurs from Dhaka visited me while I was about to leave for a trip. We spoke for only a few minutes. They never expressed any intention of building a mosque in the Chandranath Temple area.”
“They merely said a mosque for tourists would be useful in an appropriate location, and they were willing to fund it. I welcomed the idea, and I also believe that a prayer room may be established at the Eco Park portion, in consultation with the administration, for the benefit of Muslim tourists.”
On Aug 17, Sitakunda Upazila administrator (UNO) Md Fakhrul Islam, along with local police officials and leaders of the Shrine Committee, visited Chandranath Hill.
Following the inspection, the UNO issued a press release saying: “The administration inspected the Chandranath Temple area and found no evidence of any mosque construction.”
“The Hindu community is being assured that no permission has been granted by the administration to build a mosque in the temple area. Any attempt to spread rumours, propaganda, or misinformation on social media to disrupt communal harmony and the peaceful environment of Sitakunda will be dealt with according to law.”
Following this, during an exchange of views in Chattogram on Aug 24, the religious affairs advisor said: “No initiative to build a mosque has been taken there, and the news being circulated on this matter is completely baseless.”
He commented that building a new mosque on Chandranath Hill is “out of question”.
Three days after his remarks, at the meeting in Dhaka, the Shrine Committee leaders said many forms of “provocative” activities have been observed around the temple over the past five years, claiming that attempts are being made to “destroy the atmosphere of harmony”.
The committee members also requested that the stairs leading to the temple on the hill be renovated.
Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya, the president of the Shrine Committee, said: "The stairs are not in very good condition. There is a risk of accidents."
The press release stated that in response to this request, Advisor Fouzul immediately contacted Rezaul Maksud Zahedi, the secretary of the local government ministry, to take action on the renovation of the stairs.
Advisor Khalid said, “Those who attack the religious sites of other faiths cannot be pious in any way. It is a crime.
“I urge the followers of the Hindu faith to send your legitimate demands to the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust at the ministry, and we will take appropriate action.”
