Construction of Asia’s largest Ram statue in Gaibandha suspended over funding row and communal harmony concerns.

DHAKA: The construction of an ambitious 82-foot-tall Lord Ram statue project in northern Bangladesh’s Gaibandha district has been temporarily suspended following intense opposition from local Islamic hardliner groups. The project, which was being built within the premises of the prominent Sri Sri Radha Gobind and Kali Temple complex in Palashbari upazila, had been promoted as the largest Ram statue in Asia.

Tensions Halt Local Project

The temple committee formally announced the suspension during a press briefing held at the temple premises, citing a growing necessity to maintain local law and order and preserve social harmony. The decision followed days of escalating tension and demonstrations, including human chains formed along the crucial Dhaka-Rangpur highway by hardline organisations. Local reports indicate that the situation had become increasingly polarized over the last week.

Funding Transparency Questioned

The Imam-Ulema Council and other fundamentalist groups have spearheaded the protests, questioning the financial origins of the multi-crore project. The construction, which began in early 2025 through private financing, is estimated to cost over ₹17 crore.

Opposing factions have formally demanded that national intelligence agencies launch a thorough investigation into the bank accounts and properties of the initiative's organizers, alleging potential foreign government funding. Hardline leaders claimed the scale of the structure threatened regional sovereignty and caused "concern and insecurity" among the majority population.

Calls For Total Demolition

Beyond a temporary halt, the protesting groups are now demanding a complete cancellation of the project and the demolition of the incomplete 82-foot concrete structure. The Imam-Ulema Council has also pressured local authorities to institute a blanket ban on similar large-scale non-Islamic religious installations in the future.

"We believe in peaceful coexistence," said Shyamal Kumar Mahanta, an adviser to the temple committee, during the press brief. He explained that the suspension was an internal choice to de-escalate regional friction, adding that they are open to discussions with all stakeholders to resolve misunderstandings.

Existing Complex Architecture

The Sri Sri Radha Gobind and Kali Temple complex is already a major religious hub in the region, housing more than 100 deities. The premises notably feature a 30-foot Shiva statue and a 53-foot Krishna statue, which were completed prior to the current wave of friction. The Ram statue was intended to be the central attraction of a broader temple development initiative.

Pattern of Minority Friction

The halt in Gaibandha marks the third major Hindu religious project to face severe disruptions in Bangladesh within the last two years. In 2025, a makeshift Durga temple in the Khilket area of Dhaka was razed by authorities following intense pressure from local extremist groups, drawing sharp diplomatic criticism from India. Earlier, in 2024, the venue for a traditional Durga Puja idol installation in Dhaka’s Uttara sector had to be shifted overnight due to public objections.

Rising Human Rights Concerns

According to data compiled by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, minority communities have faced an unprecedented wave of targeting since the political transition in August 2024.

The council documented a staggering 2,839 attacks on minorities across the country over a two-year window. The statistics show 2,010 incidents occurring in the immediate aftermath of the regime change between August 4 and August 20, 2024. This was followed by 522 recorded incidents in 2025, and another 133 incidents in the first three months of 2026 alone. These figures comprise more than 100 documented murders, widespread vandalism of temples, land grabbing, and arson.

Vigilance Increased on Ground

While the atmosphere in Palashbari remains calm but uneasy following the announcement, local law enforcement authorities have significantly stepped up patrolling and intelligence monitoring around the temple complex. Security officials stated that no unauthorized gatherings would be permitted near the site to prevent further communal escalation as discussions between local administration and community leaders continue.