Construction of the world’s largest Saraswati idol at Jagannath Hall is part of a Hindutva ideological blueprint: Hefazat-e-Islam
The foundation stone for the construction of a permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati, described as the ‘world’s largest’, at Jagannath Hall of the University of Dhaka is part of a Hindutva agenda, said Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari and Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, they said that following the conspiracy to build the ‘world’s largest Ram statue’ in strategically important Palashbari of Rangpur, extremist Hindutva and hegemonic forces had now become active in constructing the ‘world’s largest permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati’ at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University.
“We consider taking such initiatives at strategically important locations to be part of a hegemonic agenda. We call on the government to investigate these initiatives, which have raised questions among citizens,” they said.
They further said that the hegemonic forces defeated in the mass uprising of 2024 were using a particular religion and religious community as a ‘Trojan horse’, as in the past, to consolidate Hindutva soft power in the country.
They said Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University had not been allocated exclusively to students belonging to any particular minority community. The hall is also designated for students from other religious minorities, including Buddhists and Christians, as well as students from ethnic communities in the hills. Therefore, students belonging to only one religious community cannot turn it into their exclusive property, they added.
They said extremist pseudo-secular progressives wanted to see Dhaka University as so ‘secular’ that they could not tolerate even the slightest incident of cow slaughter or any religious and cultural programme organised by Muslim students. Yet, they had remained silent over the laying of the foundation stone for the ‘world’s largest permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati’ at Jagannath Hall.
“We know the hypocrisy of these Islamophobic secularists, who are the offspring of Hindutva. Nevertheless, we have raised questions about their silence,” they said.
They further said that public universities could have places of worship for followers of all religions in the interest of religious freedom. Hindu students at Jagannath Hall have been celebrating their major religious festivals without hindrance. They said they recognised everyone’s right to practise their respective religions.
However, they said it was necessary to investigate the connection between hegemony and Hindutva behind the sudden inauguration of the foundation stone for the ‘world’s largest permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati’ and the plan to complete construction within a year and apply for recognition from Guinness World Records, according to the authorities.
They alleged that some individuals identified as extremely communal and anti-national had been found involved in such initiatives.
They strongly urged the current government, political quarters and patriotic members of the intelligence agencies to resist the conspiracies of hegemony and Hindutva.
