Arson Strikes Sylhet Tea Garden Temple

In the early hours of Sunday, a deliberate fire devastated the Gouranita Temple within the Tarapur Tea Garden in the Pathantula area of Sylhet city. Constructed largely from bamboo and corrugated tin, the temple housed religious artefacts, including an image of Lord Krishna, copies of the Bhagavad Gita, offerings, and other ceremonial items—all of which were destroyed in the blaze.

Local residents discovered the aftermath around 7:00 a.m., noticing smoke still rising from the charred structure. News of the incident quickly drew tea garden workers to the site, followed by visits from leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and police personnel. Temple authorities are preparing to file an official general diary (GD) regarding the attack.

Sunil Modi, General Secretary of the Tarapur Tea Garden Panchayat, told Prothom Alo that the perpetrators and their motives remain unknown. “A significant portion of the temple has been damaged,” he said, “and within it, religious texts, Krishna’s image, offering money, and various worship materials have been reduced to ashes.”

The temple, established approximately three years ago, serves as a regular place of worship for the tea garden workers. Despite being situated within the urban confines of Sylhet city, administratively, the tea garden falls under Tuker Bazar Union of Sylhet Sadar Upazila. Residents expressed deep concern over the incident, citing the disruption of communal harmony and calling for swift justice.

Around 10:30 a.m., BNP acting city president Rezaul Hasan Kayes Lodi, Tuker Bazar Union Chairman Shafiqul Rahman (Shafik), and local figures including Sajib Khan and Afsar Khan, visited the site. They urged the authorities to identify and punish those responsible for the arson promptly.

During his inspection, Rezaul Hasan Kayes Lodi commented, “This is a deeply regrettable act. The country has just completed elections and is progressing along democratic lines. Arson at this temple, with the destruction of the Gita, is a blatant attempt to sow unrest. Sylhet is a city known for communal harmony, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”

The Officer-in-Charge of Sylhet Metropolitan Airport Police Station, Shah Mubashir Ali, confirmed that police have conducted an immediate site inspection. “We are attempting to identify the individuals involved and investigating the motives behind this attack,” he said.

Incident Overview:

The incident has left the local tea worker community shaken and anxious, emphasising the urgent need for security and law enforcement intervention. Authorities continue to investigate, aiming to bring the culprits to account and restore confidence in the area’s communal stability.