In a troubling wave of violence against Bangladeshi Hindus, Islamists desecrated eight murtis (idols) across three Hindu temples. These incidents that took place in Dinajpur and Mymensingh caused pain amongst the Hindu community, both in Bangladesh and in India.

In Dinajpur’s Birganj sub-district, five (murtis) idols at the Jharbari Shashan Kali Temple were desecrated, with the vandalism coming to light after two days. In the Mymensingh’s Haluaghat sub-district, three (murtis) idols across two other temples were ransacked. Local authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with these attacks.

In Mymensingh, a 27-year-old man, Alal Uddin, was apprehended who confessed to vandalizing the (murti) idol at the Polashkanda Kali Temple in Beeldora union. Similarly, another Islamist, identified as Azharul, was arrested for desecrating (murtis) idols at the Bonderpara Temple in the Shakuai union. Both Islamists have been produced in court and are now in custody.

Janardan Roy, president of the Jharbari Shashan Kali Temple committee, expressed his shock, saying, “We’ve never seen such an act here.” The desecration of (murtis) idols has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, which has been subjected to increasing instances of violence in recent years.

The latest attacks add to a disturbing trend. According to India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities have been reported in Bangladesh this year as of December 8. These incidents range from vandalism to outright assaults on temples, homes, and businesses.

In response to the ongoing violence, members of the Bengali Hindu Suraksha Samiti staged a protest in Kolkata on December 10, burning posters of Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser, Muhammed Yunus, accusing him of failing to protect minorities.

Last week, authorities in Bangladesh arrested four individuals for vandalizing a Hindu temple and targeting homes and shops belonging to Hindus in the Sunamganj district. Despite these arrests, the measures taken by the Bangladeshi government remain insufficient to deter such attacks or safeguard the rights of minority communities.

In yet another chilling example of enforced disappearances, Madir alias Haqyar Mehsud, a respected Khyber Jirga member and the Sindh District East Coordinator of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), was abducted this evening from Faqira Goth, Karachi. Reportedly, the abduction was carried out by individuals dressed in police uniforms, accompanied by others in plain clothes.

The PTM, a grassroots movement advocating for the rights of Pashtuns and justice for victims of Punjabi Pak Army violence, has often found itself in the crosshairs of Paki establishment. Haqyar Mehsud’s disappearance is the latest in a series of incidents where activists critical of the establishment have been forcibly taken without any legal justification.

The PTM and local Pashtun communities have strongly condemned the abduction, demanding accountability from the authorities. “We demand that SSP East immediately bring Haqyar Mehsud to light and ensure his safe return. This blatant misuse of power to target a peaceful activist is unacceptable,” said a PTM spokesperson.

The incident underscores the increasingly authoritarian tactics employed by the Paki establishment, particularly against ethnic Pashtuns who continue to suffer from years of marginalization, Army violence, and systemic neglect. The use of enforced disappearances as a tool to suppress dissent has become a hallmark of the Pakistan, with no meaningful legal recourse for victims or their families.

In a bold stand, a large-scale protest broke out in Skardu’s Yadgar area on Monday, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC). The protest condemned the recent arrest of political activists, including prominent leader Muhammad Javed and political worker Ali Taj, which is a blatant attempt by the Pak Army to suppress dissent and quash any form of political opposition in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB).

The protesters voiced their strong opposition to the unjustified arrests and the filing of FIRs against political dissidents. They called for the immediate abolition of the controversial Fourth Schedule and Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) that the Paki establishment uses as tools of repression. Both laws have become synonymous with the suppression of civil liberties, particularly in regions like PoGB, where the Army routinely uses these laws to target individuals based on politically motivated charges rather than actual criminal behavior.

The Fourth Schedule allows the occupying-government to label political opponents as terrorists, enabling them to be detained without proper legal justification. Similarly, the ATA, introduced in 1997, has morphed from a counter-terrorism tool into a mechanism to stifle political activism and curtail basic freedoms. These laws have become a favorite of the Pak military, who employ them as instruments to enforce their authoritarian grip over regions like POGB, where they fear any form of dissent could inspire calls for autonomy or independence.

Protesters in Skardu expressed their outrage over the ever-growing climate of fear and repression in PoGB. This protest follows a similar demonstration in Hunza, where political activists gathered outside the Hunza Press Club to demand the release of Muhammad Javed, former chairman of the Karakoram National Movement, and other detained political figures. The protesters, holding placards that read “Free Javed” and “Freedom of Speech,” called for the restoration of fundamental rights, including the right to political participation and free expression.

The catalyst for the recent arrests was an FIR filed by customs officials in Hunza, accusing over 88 individuals, including Javed, of involvement in the illegal transportation of goods from China. The charges also included allegations of assaulting customs officers and obstructing roads, as well as delivering provocative speeches that allegedly incited unrest. However, the arrested activists and their supporters firmly reject these accusations, asserting that their actions were rooted in political dissent and not criminality. They argue that their real crime is speaking out against the occupation of their land by Pak Army that views them as nothing more than subjects to be controlled and silenced.