DHAKA, June 24, 2025 —A recent Bangladesh media outlet report that Muslim worshippers in the capital, Dhaka, issued an ultimatum to demolish a Hindu temple has stirred public concern. However, local police and ground investigations suggest the incident is better understood as a land dispute involving unauthorized construction on government-owned property, not a direct threat to a place of worship.

According to the Bangla Tribune, on the night of June 23, a group of local Muslims reportedly held a procession and demanded the removal of a temple — allegedly threatening to demolish it by noon the next day if it was not voluntarily dismantled. The report quoted participants warning, “Otherwise, we will tear it down.”

However, upon closer scrutiny and on-ground investigation, a different narrative has emerged.

No Physical Temple on Site

Multiple sources, including statements from local law enforcement, confirm that there is no existing temple at the disputed site. Rather, the location in question is a piece of land owned by the Bangladesh Railway, where a signboard has been erected announcing the future construction of a temple — specifically, the “Shree Shree Durga Mandir.”

Police have clarified that the installation of the signboard was unauthorized, and the land is currently subject to an attempted illegal occupation. Curiously, the signboard prominently bears the name of a senior opposition leader from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), raising further questions about the real intent behind the move.

“This is clearly an effort to grab government land by using the name of a religious institution,” a police officer familiar with the matter stated. “This is not a case of a temple being under attack; it is a dispute over illegal land occupation.”

Law Enforcement Clarifies: “No Temple Demolition, But a Dispute Over Construction”

North Dhaka’s Khilkhet Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Kamal Hossain said, “There has been a tin-fenced structure on this railway land for some time, claimed by temple authorities. However, on Monday, the temple committee began constructing a permanent boundary wall. Local residents objected, leading to rising tensions. Police arrived at the scene around 10 PM to de-escalate the situation.”

According to Hossain, the land in question is owned by Bangladesh Railway, and the recent attempt to convert a makeshift space into a permanent structure sparked community resistance. Police confirmed that no existing temple was attacked or demolished, and the authorities have intervened to prevent any escalation.

Fact Check: Did Muslim Worshippers Threaten to Demolish a Hindu Temple in Dhaka?

Claim: A temple in Dhaka was threatened with demolition by Muslim worshippers.

Status: Partially False / Misleading

Verified Facts:

A tin-fenced structure claimed by temple authorities exists on government (railway) land.

On June 23, the temple committee began unauthorized permanent construction.

Local opposition arose not against an existing temple, but against new construction on state-owned land.

Tensions escalated briefly; no demolition occurred.

Police intervened promptly to restore order.

A signboard announcing temple construction bears the name of a senior BNP political leader, suggesting potential political motivations behind the land claim.

The narrative presented in the original media coverage appears to conflate the symbolic presence of a religious signboard with an actual place of worship. This framing potentially inflames communal sentiments and misrepresents the nature of the dispute, which is primarily over illegal land occupation rather than religious persecution.

There is no evidence of a temple being present or demolished. The situation revolves around an unauthorized attempt to claim government land using religious and political symbolism. Media reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate or incomplete, and public discourse around the issue should reflect the verified facts to avoid unnecessary communal tensions.