A provocative incident has sparked massive outrage in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, after Muslim student organisations slaughtered two cows and cooked beef in close proximity to a Hindu temple situated inside the Jagannath University campus during the festival of Navratri. The act, carried out despite initial opposition and administrative notices, has triggered intense protests by Hindu groups across Dhaka, even as university authorities and the state machinery appeared helpless and failed to stop the event.
Origin of the Controversy at Jagannath University
According to a report by BBC Bangla, the trouble initially began following an incident on 12 October. On that day, members of certain Muslim organisations prepared biryani using beef directly in front of a Hindu temple located inside the university premises, while hindu organisations immediately registered strong protests against this deliberate act, stating that it hurt the religious sentiments of minority students and faculty.
Responding to the initial protest, the Jagannath University administration issued an official notice that declared such acts within the university campus to be inappropriate and wrong. However, instead of calming the situation, the administrative notice triggered defiance among the Muslim student groups, who openly announced plans to bring cows inside the campus and slaughter them.
Crowdfunding and Slaughtering of Two Cows
Following their announcement, students studying at the university initiated a fundraising campaign to finance the cow slaughter, while the fundraising drive was spearheaded by an organisation named Majlis. Under this drive, contributions of 50 rupees were collected from individual students. With the collected funds, one cow was purchased, while another Muslim organisation bought a second cow and donated it to the students.
Both cows were subsequently brought onto the campus grounds and slaughtered inside Jagannath University, while following the slaughter, the students cooked the beef and consumed it near the temple premises. The university administration confirmed that both animals were slaughtered within the campus grounds.
Administration on the Backfoot and Government Silence
In the aftermath of the incident, both the university administration and the Bangladesh government have been pushed onto the backfoot, while the government of Bangladesh has chosen to remain silent and has not issued any official statement regarding the cow slaughter outside the temple. Meanwhile, the university administration defended its inaction by claiming that no open physical conflict or dispute broke out during the event, and So they couldn't intervene or take preventive action.
Concerns Over Growing Insecurity Among Minorities
The Hindu community, which constitutes more than 8 percent of the total population of Bangladesh, is facing growing feelings of vulnerability and fear. While members of the Hindu community felt secure under the governance of Sheikh Hasina, attacks targeting Hindus have escalated continuously following the political coup and her removal from power.
The Awami League reported that during this year Durga Puja celebrations across Bangladesh, around 34 locations reported the desecration and destruction of idols and festive pandals. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a statement terming the ongoing situation unfortunate, observing that atrocities and atrocities against minorities have surged Importantly following the advent of Tarique Rahman governance in Bangladesh.