Army ransacks Buddhist temple in Lakshmichari

"We will not tolerate any Buddha house here; we want only Allah's house" says Captain Shohel.

A group of army personnel led by captain Shohel, commander of Indra Singh Karbaripara camp in Lakshmichari under Khagrachari district, ransacked a Buddhist temple-cum-meditation centre at Bhujulichuk hilltop run by one of Rev. Bana Bhante's disciples.

Rev. Bana Bhante is the most revered and venerated Buddhist monk in Bangladesh and is believed to have attained Arahathood, the supreme stage of spiritual achievement in Buddhism.

The incident took place at around 8 a.m. on 31 December 2007. Captain Sohel and his 15 soldiers destroyed a cottage and smashed the thatched roof and bamboo-wall of the main temple while Shubhopriyo Sramana was in deep meditation inside, unperturbed by the sounds of the destruction. (Photo added in PDF format)

There was another cottage on the north side. The marauding soldiers smashed it too. The latrine, the bath house and the rest house were also demolished while the monk's robes shred to pieces.

To crown it all, the army personnel threw away the statue of the Lord Buddha into the jungle to the north of the temple. However, a few minutes later they picked it up again and kept it on the ground under open sky on the east side of the temple.

Two fully ordained Buddhist monks and Shubhopriyo Sramana, a novice, live in the temple-cum-meditation centre. The name of the chief priest is Rev. Shradha Tissyo Thera and the other monk's name is Rev. Karuna Tirtho Bhikkhu.

The army commander told the monks that they could live there only if they got permission from the government; otherwise they would have to leave.

The chief monk Rev. Shradha Tissyo Thera asked him whether it was stipulated in the constitution of Bangladesh that government permission is mandatory for the construction of any religious institution.

The commander said "No".

The Bhante (monk) further asked whether such permission is required in other parts of the world.

The perplexed army men replied "No" again.

The Bhante then asked: "given that every one has equal rights to practice his / her own religion, what harm does my mode of paying worship and devotion to the Buddha cause to you?"

The utterly devastated commander fell silent and was at a loss for words before he finally found his tongue.

He just uttered "I am forced to do this army job to earn wherewithal" (pether janno chakri korte hochchey) and then left.

Previous forays
The incident represents the third attack since July and the second in December last year.


The army made its first foray into the Bhujulichuk temple on 17 July 2007. At that time army personnel led by captain Raihan, commander of Shuknachari army camp, demolished the Bhujulichuk meditation centre and briefly detained two Buddhist novices - Shasan Ujjal and Nykistic Sramana - who had been meditating there for months. They were forced to leave the temple. (see HWHRF news No. 24).

Afterwards, the devotees rebuilt the temple-cum-meditation centre and invited the monks to live there.

"We want only Allah's house"On 21 December 2007, the army launched another assault. On that day at around 8 a.m. a group of 20 army personnel led by Captain Shohel from Indra Singh Karbari Para camp (30 Field Artillery) raided the Bhujulichuk temple cum meditation centre and harassed the Buddhist monks.

Captain Shohel asked the Bhante a few questions and the Bhante gave their answers. The conversation follows:

Captain Shohel: Under whose instruction have you come here?
The Bhante: We came here on the Bana Bhante's order.

Captain Shohel: How many months have you been living here?
The Bhante: Two to three months.

Captain Shohel: Where do you sleep at night?
The Bhante: Under the tree.

Captain Shohel: Who provide food to you?
The Bhante: We live by begging alms and if we don't get any we go without food.

Captain Shohel then pulled down the Buddhist flag, burnt it down and then replaced it with a tiny towel (Gamcha).

He told the Bhante that "we will not tolerate any Buddha house here; we want only Allah's house."

Earlier, at the time of conversation the two monks and the novice were photographed and videoed.

Forced meetingOn 30 December, one day before the latest raid on Bhujulichuk, Captain Shohel forced the villagers to attend a meeting called by him at a village shop.

At the meeting, the commander said "you can build temple only after you have got permission from the government."

"And if you get permission, then we will assist you in the construction of the temple", he added.

Religious persecution on rise
Religious persecution is on the rise in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

On 10 January 2007, a group of army personnel from Lakshmichari zone raided Aryo Mitra Bouddha Vihara and harassed Rev. Sharadhatissyo Bhikkhu, the chief priest of the temple.

In August - September 2007, the settlers backed by the army made desperate attempts to capture 300 acres of land including 100 acres belonging to Sadhana Tila Bana Viahra in Dighinala, Khagrachari. They smashed the signboard of the Vihara and harassed the monks.

On 5 November 2007, Major Qamruzzaman, commander of Babuchara zone, called Sneha Moy Chakma and Santosh Jibon Chakma to his camp and threatened them not to use loudspeaker for public announcement of the Katin Chivor Danotsav, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts. The army also halted the car carrying the monks at Babuchara and released them only after the threat to hold a religious gathering in front of the camp.

On 12 September 2007, the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer of Mahalchari, Md. Abdul Matin, issued a public notice prohibiting construction of new religious institutions without prior permission of the authorities concerned. The notice was aimed at curbing Buddhist religious practice and facilitating illegal Bengali settlement.

Hill Watch Human Rights Forum, NEWS No. 03/2008, January 06, 2008